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Tag: Lakers

  • Lakers play-off hopes alive as LeBron scores 30

    Lakers play-off hopes alive as LeBron scores 30

    LeBron James scored 30 points to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a crucial victory over the Denver Nuggets, keeping their hopes alive in the Western Conference first-round playoffs.

    Despite being 3-0 down in the best-of-seven series, the Lakers staged a comeback on Saturday, winning 119-108 in Los Angeles.

    James received strong support from Anthony Davis, who contributed 25 points and 23 rebounds, ending an 11-game losing streak against the Nuggets.

    “We’ve given ourselves another life, another lifeline,” James, 39, said.

    “The only opportunity for us is just to play the next game.”

    LeBron James is aiming for his fifth NBA title and his first with the Los Angeles Lakers since 2020. The fifth game of the series against the Denver Nuggets is scheduled to take place in Denver on Monday.

    In the Eastern Conference, Jayson Tatum played a key role in the Boston Celtics’ 104-84 victory over the Miami Heat, scoring 22 points with 11 rebounds and six assists. The Celtics, who are the top seeds in the NBA, lead the series 2-1.

    Meanwhile, the Orlando Magic leveled their playoff series at 2-2 with a 112-89 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder took a commanding 3-0 lead with a 106-85 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.

  • Davis extends contract with LA Lakers

    Davis extends contract with LA Lakers

    The Los Angeles Lakers have reached an agreement with eight-time All-Star forward Anthony Davis on a contract extension lasting three years and valued at $186 million.

    Davis, aged 30, still has two years left on his initial five-year contract worth $190 million. With this extension, his commitment to the Lakers extends until the conclusion of the 2027-28 season.

    Since playing a pivotal role in the Lakers’ victory during the 2020 NBA Finals, Davis has been regarded as a cornerstone of the franchise. There were uncertainties about his long-term plans in Los Angeles, especially with LeBron James approaching the final year of his contract.

    In the previous season, Davis showcased his prowess by averaging 25.9 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game, all while achieving a career-high shooting percentage of 56.3% from the field.

    Selected as the top overall pick in the 2012 draft, Davis continues to hold a prominent position among the NBA’s elite players, provided he remains in good health. However, he has encountered difficulties in maintaining his presence on the court, having been absent for a total of 104 games throughout the past three seasons.

    Despite Davis’ recent injury challenges, the Lakers managed to reach the Western Conference finals in the previous season. Coupled with a positive offseason, the team is poised for high expectations in Los Angeles. However, the ongoing concerns regarding the durability of both Davis and LeBron James still linger.

    “We are trending in the right direction,” Davis said at the end of last season. “Obviously, the goal is to win championships, and we wanted to be not just knocking on the door but actually get it done, walk through the door. So that’s our goal. That’s our goal every time we step on the floor for training camp, and I’m 100-percent sure that will be the goal next year.”

    During 11 NBA seasons, Davis has averaged 24 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists, along with 2.31 blocks and 1.34 steals.

    In 55 career playoff games, Davis has averaged 25.9 points, 11.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists while shooting 53.3 percent from the field.

  • LeBron to return for another NBA season with Lakers

    LeBron to return for another NBA season with Lakers

    LeBron James has announced his decision to continue playing for the Los Angeles Lakers in the upcoming NBA season.

    The 38-year-old basketball superstar, during the ESPYs, confirmed that he will be entering his 21st NBA season and his sixth season with the Lakers.

    His announcement came as he accepted the ESPY award for Best Record-Breaking Performance, acknowledging his achievement of surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the NBA’s all-time scoring list in the previous season.

    “I don’t care how many more points I can score or what I can or can’t do on the floor,” James said. “The real question for me, can I play without cheating the game? The day I can’t play without giving everything on the floor is the day I’ll be done. Lucky for you guys, that day is not today.”

    After the Los Angeles Lakers’ defeat to the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference finals at the end of the previous season, LeBron James expressed uncertainty about his return to the team.

    This sentiment differed significantly from his previous statements, in which he expressed a desire to play alongside his eldest son, Bronny, in the NBA.

    Despite the initial uncertainty, James, the basketball superstar, has now confirmed his decision to continue playing.

    In the 2022-23 season, he delivered another outstanding performance, maintaining an impressive average of 28.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 6.8 assists across 55 games.

  • Lakers’ Carmelo Anthony retires from NBA

    Lakers’ Carmelo Anthony retires from NBA

    Basketball icon Carmelo Anthony, regarded as one of the NBA’s all-time great players, has declared his retirement from the sport.

    The 38-year-old last competed with the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2021/22 season but did not participate in the league this year.

    Over the course of his illustrious career, spanning 19 NBA seasons, Anthony attained numerous accolades, including 10 All-Star Game selections and 6 appearances in the All-NBA team.

    Making the announcement through a social media video, he also highlighted his achievement as the NBA scoring champion during the 2012/13 season, with an impressive average of 28.7 points per game.

    Carmelo Anthony

    He retires as the No. 9 scorer in NBA history. He retires with 28,289 points. Anthony also won three gold medals with the USA Basketball team in 2008, 2012, and 2016.

    He suited up for the Nuggets (2003-2011), Knicks (2011-2017), Thunder (2017-2018), Rockets (2018-2019), Trail Blazers (2019-2021) and Lakers (2021-2022).

    His legacy is solid in the NBA. He was named as one of the 75 greatest players in NBA history. Nevertheless, he never got to the NBA Finals. He reached the conference finals in 2009 with the Nuggets, but they lost to the Kobe Bryant-led Lakers, per ESPN.

    What Anthony said

    In his emotional video announcement, Anthony was thankful

    “I remember the days when I had nothing. Just a ball on the court and a dream of something more. But basketball was my outlet. My purpose was strong, my communities, the cities I represented with pride and the fans that supported me along the way.

    I am forever grateful for those people and places because they made me Carmelo Anthon. But now the time has come for me to say goodbye. To the court where I made my name, to the game that gave me purpose and pride. With this bittersweet goodbye to the NBA,” via the Athletic.

    Anthony was drafted No. 3 overall by the Nuggets in 2003 and was part of the star-studded class that included LeBron James at No. 1, Hall of Famer Chris Bosh at No. 4, and Dwyane Wade at No. 5.

    Anthony and James watch their sons

    Sports Brief earlier reported on Anthony and James watching their sons face off in high school.

    LeBron’s sons, Bronny and Bryce James, and Carmelo’s son Kiyan Anthony stole the show in an exciting high school basketball game in December 2022.

    LeBron James Carmelo Anthony and son

    Kiyan Anthony ended with 10 points, but he was slightly overshadowed by the impressive display of Bronny James, who had 12 points.

  • LeBron likely to miss Clippers game

    LeBron likely to miss Clippers game

    LeBron James was crucial to the Los Angeles Lakers’ victory over the Utah Jazz, but he might not be available when they play the Los Angeles Clippers.

    Tuesday’s 135-133 overtime victory in Salt Lake City clinched the Lakers’ place in the Western Conference play-in playoffs.

    The Lakers, who are now in seventh place, have three games left to play in the regular season, but they still have a chance to clinch a playoff spot without having to advance through the play-in round. On Wednesday, they play the Clippers, a team from their city who are now ranked above them with a 41-38 record.

    However, that strain might limit James’ availability for Wednesday.

    “The extra five minutes definitely didn’t help. It definitely didn’t help but we needed to get the win,” James told reporters, before explaining his process of deeming whether or not he would be able to feature against the Clippers.

    “How my foot feels when I wake up and I step out of bed,” he added.

    “That’s been the most important since I’ve injured it five weeks ago. The next day after either rehab or training or treatment, whatever. It’s always that.”

    Anthony Davis was unusually slack with his shooting, managing just seven-of-16 from the field and seven-of-12 from the free throw line for 21 points, though he still contributed 14 rebounds and six assists.

    Davis has not played in back-to-back games since returning from a right foot issue earlier in 2023, and like James, he was unsure on whether he would face the Clippers.

    “I haven’t played in a back-to-back in a long time,” Davis said.

    “So, I mean, we’ll all get on a phone call or something tomorrow morning and go from there.”

    Coach Darvin Ham confirmed no decision had yet been taken.

    “We have our short-term business that we need to take care of and our long-term business that we need to take care of,” Ham said.

    “We prioritise a player’s health, first and foremost. Regardless of what the stakes are or the implications of with a win or a loss or all of that.

    “We need our players to know that we care about their health, first and foremost.

    “If we see that they won’t have any issues, in terms of their health, and we’re not putting them at risk, then we’ll proceed.

    “If there’s any kind of question marks, we’ll walk through them, talk through them, and go from there.”

  • LeBron James eyes championship as Lakers chemistry gets better

    LeBron James eyes championship as Lakers chemistry gets better

    The Los Angeles Lakers improved their chances of making the playoffs on Sunday with their third straight victory, and LeBron James insists they are still hoping to win a championship this year.

    The Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets 134-109 to raise their record to 40-38 with four games remaining, moving them up to seventh place in the Western Conference behind the losers from the weekend, the Los Angeles Clippers (41-38) and Golden State Warriors (41-38).

    The Los Angeles Lakers are in front of the New Orleans Pelicans (40-38), holding the head-to-head tiebreaker.

    The top six teams advance automatically to the playoffs, while teams seven through ten compete in a play-in round.

    Following a series of trades in February including the additions of D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt, Rui Hachimura and Malik Beasley with Russell Westbrook departing, the Lakers have stormed into playoff contention, winning 10 of their past 14 games.

    “We just want to put ourselves in the position to compete for a championship,” James told reporters.

    “It’s a journey and obviously we don’t have as much chemistry as a lot of other teams that have aspirations to win a championship, but we’ve been building over the last month or so.

    The Los Angeles Lakers improved their chances of making the playoffs on Sunday with their third straight victory, and LeBron James insists they are still hoping to win a championship this year.

    The Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets 134-109 to raise their record to 40-38 with four games remaining, moving them up to seventh place in the Western Conference behind the losers from the weekend, the Los Angeles Clippers (41-38) and Golden State Warriors (41-38).

    The Los Angeles Lakers are in front of the New Orleans Pelicans (40-38), holding the head-to-head tiebreaker. The top six teams advance automatically to the playoffs, while teams seven through ten compete in a play-in round.

    “These last four games are very important for our team, not only wins and losses but also the chemistry side as well.

    “We need to continue to build what we’ve been building over the last month or so. We’ll see what happens.”

    James had 18 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists to match Jason Kidd for 107 career triple-doubles, which is fourth overall in NBA history.

    Anthony Davis played a key role with 40 points, including 27 in the first half, with James saying his All-Star team-mate was “making magic right now”.

    Russell only played 15 minutes for six points, not returning after half-time due to left foot soreness but Lakers head coach Darvin Ham downplayed any major issue.

    “It was definitely precautionary,” Ham said. “He could have continued the game if we needed him to. The bodies we have available to us now, we just didn’t want to risk it.”

  • Curry may return on Sunday in game against Lakers

    Curry may return on Sunday in game against Lakers

    Stephen Curry is expected to return to the Golden State Warriors lineup for their matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.

    Curry, who sustained a lower leg injury on February 4, has taken part in numerous team scrimmages, including one on Thursday.

    Reporters questioned Warriors coach Steve Kerr about whether Curry may be available on Sunday in Los Angeles following Thursday’s shootaround.

    “I suppose,” Kerr replied.

    Curry has already been ruled out for Golden State’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday.

    Entering play Thursday, the Warriors are 12-12 this season without the two-time league MVP, but his return will be welcome news for a team in the thick of the jumbled Western Conference playoff picture.

    Before Thursday’s games against the Los Angeles Clippers, the defending champion Warriors sat in fifth place in the West at 32-30, just 2.5 games up on the 11th-place Lakers.

    Despite dealing with shoulder and leg injuries in his 14th NBA season, Curry is having one of his best individual campaigns, scoring 29.4 points per game on 42.7-percent shooting from beyond the arc.

    The Warriors’ season has been a rocky one – especially given the team’s 7-23 road record – but they remain contenders when healthy.

    One development of note has been the reemergence of Curry’s ‘Splash Brothers’ running-mate Klay Thompson, who has averaged 26.2 points in 21 games since January 2.

  • LeBron’s injury to be reassessed in three weeks

    LeBron’s injury to be reassessed in three weeks

    According to the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James‘ foot ailment will be reevaluated in three weeks.

    The 38-year-old missed Sunday’s win over the Dallas Mavericks, the loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, and the triumph over the Oklahoma City Thunder because of an injury he suffered in the third quarter.

    James will not need surgery, according to reports on Thursday. The Lakers have also claimed that James has a right foot tendon issue, however this has not been officially confirmed by the team.

    A team statement said: “LeBron James has been evaluated by Lakers team physicians and medical staff and it has been determined that he has sustained a right foot tendon injury.

    “James will be reevaluated in approximately three weeks.”

    There is just over a month remaining of the regular season, with the Lakers facing a battle to secure a spot in the playoffs, sitting 11th in the Western Conference on a record of 30-33.

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • LeBron’s Lakers complete biggest comeback of the season with 27 points ahead of Dallas Mavericks

    LeBron’s Lakers complete biggest comeback of the season with 27 points ahead of Dallas Mavericks

    The biggest comeback of the season was pulled off by the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday against the Dallas Mavericks after they fell behind by 27 points.

    The Lakers were down 48-21 early in the second quarter before rallying to win 111-108, their third straight victory and biggest comeback since 2002.

    trade deadline purchase In the victory over the Golden State Warriors on Thursday, Malik Beasley made his entrance known with a 25-point outburst, and this time, Jarred Vanderbilt proved why he has earned a spot in the Lakers’ starting lineup.

    The rangy six-foot-eight defensive menace was everywhere, working as the primary defender on Luka Doncic on his way to 15 points (six-of-eight shooting), 17 rebounds (eight offensive) and four steals in his 27 minutes.

    Anthony Davis was the star of the show on the offensive end, scoring a game-high 30 points on 12-of-20 shooting with 15 rebounds and four assists, and the league’s active leader for career blocked shots per game swatted away three Maverick attempts.

    LeBron James had an injury scare, and while he is still not out of the woods, he stayed in the game and put up 26 points on 10-of-23 shooting with eight rebounds.

    For the Mavericks, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving shot a combined 18-of-44 (40 per cent) from the field for 47 points, while the other three members of the starting line-up combined for 18 points.

    With the win, the Lakers improved their record to 29-32 and now sit just one game out of the Play-In Tournament placings, while they are also just 2.5 games away from the Mavericks in the sixth seed.

    Damian Lillard matched Donovan Mitchell’s season-best 71 points as he scored 13 three-pointers in the Portland Trail Blazers’ 131-114 win over the Houston Rockets.

    The Blazers guard’s 71-point mark was both a franchise and career high, topping his previous record of 61.

    Lillard had 41 points with eight triples by half-time, the most points of any player in a half this season. He shot 13-of-22 from beyond the arc for the game, having a perfect 14-of-14 from the line.

    Klay stays hot

    After 42 points and 12 three-pointers on Friday’s win, Klay Thompson led the Golden State Warriors to a 109-104 home win against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

    The future Hall of Fame sharpshooter hit another six threes on his way to a team-high 32 points, shooting 12-of-23 from the field and six-of-14 from deep. Donte DiVincenzo was strong in a supporting role, chipping in 21 points (seven-of-13 shooting), eight rebounds, five assists and four steals.

    After shooting a red-hot 43.1 per cent on a gaudy 11.6 three-point attempts per game in the month of January, Thompson has elevated even further this month, getting up 12.1 attempts per game and connecting at 45.9 per cent.

  • LeBron, Davis cause Lakers comeback win

    LeBron, Davis cause Lakers comeback win

    Early in the fourth quarter, the Los Angeles Lakers were behind by 14 points before coming back to defeat the Indiana Pacers 112-111 on the road.

    Los Angeles’ defense failed them early on Thursday as they trailed 67-54 after giving up 35 points in the first quarter and another 32 in the second.

    Before their defense perked up in the fourth quarter and limited the home team to just 15, the Lakers were finally able to keep the Pacers to under 30 points in the third frame (30–29).

    LeBron James’ three-pointer with 2:35 left in the game gave the visiting team its first lead, 108-106, but with less than a minute left, youngster Andrew Nembhard’s jump shot had given the Pacers a one-point edge.

    While the Lakers left the door open with a pair of missed free throws from Pat Beverley, Buddy Hield’s potential game-winning shot was off the mark due to Beverley’s stifling defense. With the game on the line, Anthony Davis drained a clutch post fadeaway over elite defensive center Myles Turner to retake the lead.

    http://tigpost.co/nba-refs-apologise-after-mistake-on-lebron-call-in-lakers-loss/

    It was a gutsy comeback to give the Lakers their second win in a row, led by Davis’ 31 points on 13-of-27 shooting with 14 rebounds and two blocks. 

    Meanwhile, James was efficient with 26 points on 11-of-19 shooting, adding seven rebounds and seven assists. He is now 62 points away from tying Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time scoring mark.

    For the Pacers, Tyrese Haliburton enjoyed a strong return from injury after three weeks on the sideline, leading his team in points (26) and assists (12) after being named to his first All-Star team earlier in the day.

  • Ham says Lakers do not discuss LeBron’s record chase

    Ham says Lakers do not discuss LeBron’s record chase

    LeBron James’ pursuit of the NBA points record is rarely discussed by the Los Angeles Lakers, claims head coach Darvin Ham.

    The Lakers rallied to defeat the Pacers 112-111 on Thursday, led by James’ 26 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists.

    James now has 38,325 points in his amazing career, leaving him 62 points short of Kareem Abdul-all-time Jabbar’s record.

    It implies that James will probably set a new record the following week when playing the Oklahoma City Thunder.

    The Lakers, according to Ham, do not view it as a major issue.

    “I think it’s an amazing feat,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham told reporters.

    “When it happens, kudos to Bron for all his longevity and not just longevity, but longevity at the top of the list at an elite level.

    http://tigpost.co/lebron-scores-46-as-clippers-continue-domination-over-lakers/

    “But our day-to-day, we hardly ever discuss it unless we’re asked about it. For us, it’s just, how can we get our team in the best position to make a run?”

    James, though, did not look to downplay the importance of the record.

    “I think it’s one of the greatest records in sports, in general. It’s like the home run record in baseball,” he said.

    http://tigpost.co/lebron-reaches-38000-career-points-as-lakers-lose-late-to-76ers/

    “It’s one of those records that you don’t ever see or think will be broken.

    “You see guys like Hank Aaron, who had [baseball’s home run record] for so long. You see guys like Sammy [Sosa] and Mark McGwire and you start climbing it and it’s like, ‘Oh, this could really happen.’

    “It’s a fun thing as a sports person. It was fun watching those guys chasing it.”

    Anthony Davis led the Lakers with 31 points and 14 rebounds, and it was his 11-foot shot with 35 seconds left put Los Angeles ahead, before he made a crucial block from Tyrese Haliburton.

    Davis missed out on selection for the All-Star Game, though that was of little concern.

    “I’m here to win, to try to compete for championships, not to get into All-Star Games,” Davis said.

    “My wife is ecstatic. She already texted me, ‘So, where we going [during All-Star break]?’”

  • NBA refs apologise after mistake on LeBron call in Lakers loss

    NBA refs apologise after mistake on LeBron call in Lakers loss

    Following a crucial last-second refereeing blunder that cost the Los Angeles Lakers against the Boston Celtics, the NBA referees’ official Twitter account issued an apology for the “gut-wrenching” error.

    With less than five seconds left in the game with the score knotted at 105-105, LeBron James attempted to win it for the Lakers when Jayson Tatum whacked him on his shooting arm at the rim.

    Before the Celtics won a 125-121 victory in overtime, the four-time MVP and four-time NBA Finals MVP would miss with his attempted drive.

    “Like everyone else, referees make mistakes. We made one at the end of last night’s game and that is gut-wrenching for us,” the official account wrote.

    “This play will weigh heavily and cause sleepless nights as we strive to be the best referees we can be.”

    The apology may prove little consolation for James, whose 41 points on Saturday in Boston proved in vain.

    Defeat saw the Lakers fall to 23-27, sitting 13th out of 15 teams in the Western Conference ahead of four road games in the coming week.

    Los Angeles will look to bounce back at the Brooklyn Nets on Monday without James and Davis after the Lakers confirmed the pair would be absent on the first night of their back-to-back.

  • LeBron scores 46 as Clippers continue domination over Lakers

    LeBron scores 46 as Clippers continue domination over Lakers

    The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 133-115 on Tuesday, despite LeBron James scoring 46 points.

    With a recent record of 36-9, the Clippers have now defeated the Lakers 10 times in a row. With a 26-24 record after the victory, the Clippers move up to fifth place in the west, passing the Lakers, who currently sit in 13th place with a 22-26 record.

    The Clippers’ highest scorer was Paul George, who led the team with 27 points on 11-of-20 shooting, nine rebounds, and four assists. The club made 19 three-pointers at a 50% clip.

    In helping the Clippers win their third straight game, Kawhi Leonard contributed 25 points along with nine rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks. As Luke Kennard (calf) and John Wall (abdominal strain) near returns, more reinforcements may be on the way.

    James was outstanding for the Lakers, making nine of fourteen triples on 16-of-29 shooting from the field while also contributing eight rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and one block.

    With 46 points, the four-time NBA MVP is now 177 points away from tying Kareem Abdul-all-time Jabbar’s scoring mark of 38,387.

    James appeared set for a 50-point game, scoring 15 points in the fourth quarter, before the Clippers put the game to bed on an 8-0 run and send James to the bench for good with five minutes remaining.

  • LeBron set for scans after ‘groin strain’ in Lakers loss

    LeBron James is set for scans after feeling a “groin strain” in the fourth quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers’ 114-101 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.

    James limped off the court with under six minutes remaining and did not return, wincing in pain and grabbing his groin area. The Lakers said at the time he was experiencing “left leg soreness”.

    The four-time MVP, who scored 30 points in the game, confirmed that the issue will need medical evaluation.

    “I feel good besides for the injury,” James said. “I’ll get pictures on it tomorrow and go from there.

    “But I didn’t do anything extreme on the play, it was just when I landed I felt a little spasm or strain in my groin.

    “Immediately I came out after the next play down I went to the free-throw line.”

    James missed 17 straight games during the 2017-19 season with a left groin tear, but he insisted this is “not as bad”.

    The loss left the Lakers with a 2-9 record, having lost four straight games by double-digit margins, and being without James for a stretch would be a major dent to their hopes of pushing back into contention for the playoffs.

    Lakers head coach Darvin Ham did not want to speculate on the severity of the injury but admitted there was a balance to be struck in his recovery given the urgency of their situation.

    James added: “In order for you to be productive for your teammates you have to take care of your body.”

    The 37-year-old is averaging 24.3 points, 8.9 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game this season.


    Source: Livescore

  • Westbrook rubbishes claims of Lakers discord after preseason clip goes viral

    Los Angeles Lakers point guard Russell Westbrook has rubbished suggestions he is in dispute with his team-mates following viral footage that appeared to show him intentionally distancing himself from them.

    Video captured in a preseason loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves showed the 33-year-old splitting from the rest of his team during a huddle, while he eschewed a later one.

    After a difficult first season in LA as the Lakers missed the playoffs and Westbrook’s performances were the subject of scrutiny, questions were raised as to whether there was discord in the ranks even before the start of the new campaign.

    But Westbrook responded: “Pre-game, I’ve been doing that since I’ve been in the league for years, man.

    “I think they just cut the video, and obviously the internet is going to take it and run with whatever they need to run with.

    “But I’ve been doing the same ritual since I’ve been in the league. As far as the other video, I was actually talking to the coaches and they cut that video in half as well.

    “Honestly I’m just trying to compete and do my job. Everything, videos get nitpicked. You can cut any video and make anything you want out of it. It’s not up to me to be able to judge that.

    “I know I’m a genuine team player. I’ve never had a problem being with my team-mates, so I’m going to continue doing what I’ve been doing.”

    Source: Livescore

     

  • Pau Gasol opens up on relationship with Kobe & Lakers retiring his Jersey

    The 2008 Beijing Olympics provided iconic moments in abundance. From Usain Bolt’s dominant showing in track and field to Michael Phelps swimming into the history books to the Redeem Team re-establishing the United States as the premier country in men’s basketball. In the midst of all of that, Spain’s Pau Gasol was helping lead the Spanish national team to the gold medal final, where it ultimately fell short to the United States but he cherishes the history that was made between two teams playing in one of the great international basketball games of all-time.

    “You feel like it was special,” said Gasol. “Put everything aside, you’re playing in the Olympics, you’re playing in the final for the gold medal, and you know you’re facing a great team. A team that was there on a mission.”

    Gasol was one of several interviewees on the new documentary The Redeem Team, speaking from the perspective of an opponent and close friend of the late great Kobe Bryant. One of the most compelling scenes of the doc included an anecdote detailing Kobe’s intensity on the court.

    Gasol and Kobe’s relationship went far beyond basketball but when on the court as opponents, that all went out the window. Gasol sat down with Complex to detail the 2008 gold medal final against the Redeem Team, his relationship with Kobe Bryant and what it will mean to have his jersey retired by the Los Angeles Lakers this coming season.

    Source: Complex.com