LeBron James hasn’t looked completely like himself since returning from that groin injury he suffered on March 8 – Until tonight! Finally regaining his groove after four straight mediocre performances, he had a dominant outing against the Grizzlies and led his team to victory. What impressed JJ Redick and Austin Reaves the most apart from LeBron’s tough buckets and all-around game was the resurgence of his vocal leadership.
Detailing the stark behavior change, Redick said postgame, “I just told him, he was an incredible leader tonight. And it was early but it was throughout the game. When we got down, I challenged the group in a timeout and he was as vocal as he’s been since he got back from injury.” Well, it was a close game from start to finish and LeBron led the charge with his 25-point performance. Moreover, he constantly guided and motivated his teammates as revealed by JJ.
Sure enough, LeBron’s words made all the difference, as Redick remarked, “That galvanized the group. It was about communication and what he said, I think if he doesn’t say what he said in the timeout, we probably don’t win the game.” The best way to lead is by example and King James did exactly that.
Turns out, he had alerted the Lakers locker room beforehand about how crucial tonight’s game was. Austin Reaves revealed LeBron’s private message during the postgame interview, “You know Bron said it before the game ‘We’re gonna play this as a must win.’” Well, the LA team is currently fighting to win home court advantage in the playoffs and the winner of tonight’s game would take the 4th seed in the West, at least for now. LeBron knew what was at stake and prepared his team for the tough encounter, eventually leading the Lakers to a 7-point victory.
Austin Reaves reveals LeBron James’ “refreshing” act as he sends stern message to the Lakers amid playoff push
After Redick praised LeBron’s leadership, AR also gave a sneak peek into what transpired during the timeout, “It’s the first time I’ve heard him yell in a while. It was refreshing to be honest. I loved it. I don’t remember exactly what he said but it just shows how much he cares.” Well, there might be no one more passionate than LeBron in the entire league as he has been on top of his game for 22 consecutive years. And it showed tonight.
Feb 6, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Reaves wants his teammates to take a page out of LeBron’s book, “His attention to detail is probably the standard. If all of us can lock into that, every single possession you can create something special.” They were able to do that tonight as for the first time since LeBron’s return, the Lakers played like title contenders. Of course, Luka Doncic did what he always does and dropped 29 points. Meanwhile, Reaves scored 31 points to complete the lethal trifecta.
Even the supporting cast did a solid job, with three other players scoring in double digits – Rui Hachimura, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Gabe Vincent. If the Lakers maintain this form and LeBron continues to lead the way he did tonight, they will surely make a deep playoff run and maybe even win it all. Thoughts?
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