LeBron James accepts invitation to attend Giannis Antetokounmpo’s wedding

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James and Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo both saw their 2023-24 NBA seasons come to an end in the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs, but it looks like both stars have exciting summer plans.

Antetokounmpo is reportedly planning on getting married to his long-term partner Mariah Riddlesprigger, and it looks like James will be in attendance.

“In terms of guests, the number is expected to be…big!” wrote NewsIT (translated via Google). “The latest information states that the great NBA star LeBron James has already accepted the invitation and will travel to Greece for the wedding of the year.”

Antetokounmpo getting James to attend his wedding was likely made easier thanks to the fact that the ceremony is scheduled to take place in the Bucks star’s home nation of Greece.

It will be interesting to see if James travels alone, but conventional wisdom surely indicates that he may travel with his own wife, Savannah, to enjoy the celebration and all the beauty that Greece as a nation has to offer.

While both players are likely quite excited for the upcoming festivities, which are set to take place in August, there is also surely a part of them that would rather still be focusing on basketball and the playoffs.

Antetokounmpo missed the entirety of his team’s short-lived playoff run due to a left calf strain that he suffered in early April. Though the Bucks put up a good fight and extended their series against the Indiana Pacers to six games, the team simply could not overcome the absence of its superstar big.

As for James and the Lakers, they failed to overcome the juggernaut that is the Denver Nuggets once again. After losing to the eventual 2023 champion Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals last season, the Lakers failed to come out of a series against the Nuggets in the first round this season.

The series lasted only five games, but the matchups were far more competitive than the final result of the series indicates. The Lakers led in each of the five games, many times by wide margins. Still, their inability to close out the end of games proved costly, and James and company are now left to wonder what could have been.

Play with my most effort”: Bronny James highlights defensive tenacity and playing hard as keys to success on Day 2 of NBA draft combine·

Bronny James highlights defensive tenacity and playing hard as keys to success in Day 2 of NBA draft combine

Bronny James had a better outing in his second scrimmage after a rather uneventful first at the NBA Draft Combine on Tuesday. His Wednesday showing yielded better returns as he ended with a team-high 13 points in 23 minutes in a 90-83 win for Team St. Andrews against Team Love. 

James had a field day showcasing his hustle and defensive tenacity on the court, both of which he later regarded as the bedrock of his game. Speaking to the media after his impressive performance, James was asked about his approach on Day 2.

“I always try to come out and play with my most effort,” James said. “Try to play the right way, and play hard. I’m always gonna play hard and I feel like that shows up on the defensive end. I just try to focus on that.”

 

After ending with four points and four rebounds on the first day, the 19-year-old bounced back with 13 points the following day. He was seen playing off the ball more frequently, a result of which there were more catch-and-shoot opportunities created.

While he has work to do with avoiding the number of turnovers and improving his shooting efficiency, James showed that he was not afraid of attacking the rim and getting past contact.

In attendance on Wednesday were his father LeBron James and LA Lakers GM Rob Pelinka. By the end of the combine, there will be a final decision made on whether he intends to stay in the draft or go back to college.

LeBron James’ son keen to carve his own identity

Bronny James has been the cynosure of all eyes at the NBA Draft Combine with the spotlight firmly trained on the son of the LA Lakers legend. And amid all the attention on his game, the oldest son of the 39-year-old superstar made it clear that he wanted to build his own identity. Per Yahoo! Sports:

“Everything that follows my dad, people just try to link me with that and all the greatness he’s achieved and I haven’t done anything yet. So there needs to be that divide between Bronny and LeBron. I just want to let people know that my name is Bronny James and not being identified as LeBron James’ son.”

Bronny James focusing on NBA ‘dream,’ not playing with dad LeBron

It may be LeBron James’ dream to play alongside his son Bronny in the NBA, but a father-son pairing isn’t the utmost goal for the 19-year-old USC Trojans guard.

Instead, Bronny James just wants to be an NBA player, no matter whether it’s with the Los Angeles Lakers or any other team. 

“My dream has always just been to put my name out, make a name for myself and get to the NBA,” Bronny James told reporters Tuesday night at the NBA draft combine.

“Everything that follows my dad, people just try to link me with that and all the greatness that he’s achieved. I haven’t done anything yet, so I feel like there needs to be that divide between Bronny and LeBron.”

Instead of comparing him to his father, the younger James said he believes his game is more like that of Boston’s Jrue Holiday or Derrick White, or Sacramento’s Davion Mitchell.

James, a 6-4 guard, has declared for the NBA draft, but still has until May 29 to decide whether he wants to stay in the draft or return to college basketball for his sophomore season. He has already said he will enter the transfer portal after one year at USC, where he averaged 4.8 points and 2.8 rebounds over 25 games.

LeBron James has said on several occasions that after a 21-year NBA career that has included four league MVP awards, four NBA titles and 20 All-Star appearances, one of his remaining goals is to play on the same team as his son.

Bronny, however, has more immediate goals − after recently being medically cleared to participate in the combine following a cardiac arrest last July and a procedure to repair a congenital heart defect.

“I’m just trying to put in the work and see where it takes me from there,” he said.

Cavaliers Earn 1st NBA Playoff Series Win Without LeBron James Since 1993 vs. Magie

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After defeating the Orlando Magic in Game 7 by the final of 106-94 on Sunday, the Cleveland Cavaliers advanced to the second round of the 2024 NBA playoffs.

The Cavaliers, who have largely been defined by LeBron James throughout their history, secured the organization’s first playoff series victory without James on the roster since 1993.

Cleveland was led by Donovan Mitchell this time, with the five-time All-Star shooting guard pouring in 89 points and nine assists throughout the final two games of the series.

The Cavaliers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead over Orlando at home before dropping two consecutive road contests to tie the series. Both teams secured wins in Game 5 and Game 6, setting up a series-defining Game 7 in Cleveland.

The Magic started off strong on Sunday, jumping out to a 47-29 lead just over halfway through the second quarter. Cleveland was able to erase the deficit after halftime due to the heroics of Mitchell as well as Caris LeVert, who finished as the team’s second-leading scorer with 15 points off the bench.

By earning a win after trailing by 18 points, head coach J.B. Bickerstaff’s team completed the largest Game 7 comeback win by a team since the 1997-98 season.

The series victory was impressive for an organization that has struggled to remain successful without James. He helped the Cavaliers earn four straight trips to the NBA Finals from 2015 through 2018, including an iconic 2016 championship.

When James left the team to join the Miami Heat in 2010, Cleveland finished with the worst record in the Eastern Conference at 19-63. After he departed the organization once again to join the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018, the Cavaliers recorded another 19-63 season.

Now, the team is trending in the right direction with Mitchell and a young core that includes Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Isaac Okoro.

The Cavaliers will face a tougher task in the second round, as they’ll battle with a Boston Celtics team that finished the regular season with a 64-18 record before beating the Miami Heat in five games during the opening round of the postseason.

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LeBron James Makes NBA History in Lakers vs. Nuggets Game 4

The Los Angeles Lakers avoided a sweep in Game 4 on Saturday night, snapping their 11-game losing streak vs. the Denver Nuggets. Forcing a Game 5 in Denver, the Lakers still have a ton of work to do in order to overcome a 3-0 deficit, but they are now on the board in this series.

LeBron James has been great all series, and finished this game with 30 PTS, 5 REB, 4 AST, and 3 STL on an efficient 14/23 from the field. According to Basketball Reference’s StatHead, James is the oldest player in NBA playoff history with this line in a game. At 39 years old, James passes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who achieved this line at age 37 in 1984. The Lakers needed this big night from James, as they were able to finally hold a lead against the Nuggets and pick up a victory.

As previously mentioned, the Lakers are still staring at a massive deficit, down 3-1 to the Nuggets heading to a Game 5 in Denver. That said, Los Angeles is trying to take things one game at a time, and now has a win against Denver for the first time in a long time. The Lakers will try to send this series back to Los Angeles with a win on the road vs. Denver in Game 5.

LeBron James is unlikely to leave the Los Angeles Lakers to join another team with Bronny James

Since Bronny James announced his intention to enter the 2024 NBA Draft, the basketball world has been buzzing with speculation about his future. The eldest son of LeBron James had a strong high school career, and while his performance at USC wasn’t stellar, he made a notable impression at the NBA Combine.

NBA insider Shams Charania recently shared insights into what might happen if Bronny is drafted by a team other than the Los Angeles Lakers. Charania stated, “It would not surprise me in the coming weeks if a team does reach out to Rich Paul or anyone around Bronny James, or even LeBron James himself, and asks, ‘Hey, if we draft Bronny James, would you come as well?’ And the answer to that is no, as of right now.” 

Despite this, the Lakers are reportedly very interested in Bronny. The team views the 19-year-old guard as a good fit and is considering drafting him. The Lakers are also in the midst of a search for a new head coach, following their split with Darvin Ham, with potential candidates including JJ Redick, Sam Cassell, and James Borrego.

During the NBA Combine in Chicago, the Lakers interviewed Bronny, showing their serious interest in his potential. Bronny impressed scouts and executives by scoring 13 points in two scrimmage games after a slow start.

According to the Los Angeles Times’ Dan Woike, the Lakers are contemplating selecting Bronny with the No. 55 overall pick in the draft. Woike noted, “In terms of the draft, the Lakers seem like they’ll be the draft floor for Bronny James at pick 55, a player the team conducted an interview with in Chicago, according to sources not authorized to publicly discuss draft strategy.”

However, the Lakers are not the only team interested in Bronny. The Utah Jazz are also rumored to be eyeing the USC product. As the draft approaches, it remains to be seen where Bronny will land and how this decision will influence LeBron’s future in the NBA.

LeBron James, Anthony Davis React to Lakers Facing Elimination vs. Nuggets

The Los Angeles Lakers, yet again, have fallen into an 0-3 playoff deficit against the Denver Nuggets, this time in the first round of the NBA playoffs.

A year ago, the Nuggets swept them in the Western Conference Finals and have now bested the Lakers 11 straight times. But LeBron James is trying to keep hope.

“You just take it one game at a time, at this point,” he told reporters when asked if the Lakers believe they could become the first team in NBA history to ever pull off the reverse-sweep (5:52 mark). “You lose, you go home, so you come out with the mindset, let’s get one. Force a Game 5, and then we go from there. As long as you still have life, then you always have belief. I just think you play until the wheels fall off. That’s what it’s always about, for me.”

“Our focus, and our mental right now, is trying to get one,” Anthony Davis added. “Trying to get a game on Saturday and then go from there. We can’t focus on [the 11-game losing streak to Denver], our focus is on trying to get better. From tonight, learn from our mistakes and try to get a win on Saturday.”

It’s do or die time for these Lakers, who now have the daunting task of winning four straight games against the defending champions. It isn’t impossible, but it sure feels incredibly improbable.

Lakers Rumors: Donovan Mitchell Trade Preferred over Trae Young If LA Eyes Big 3

The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly prioritizing Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell over Atlanta Hawks’ Trae Young if they decide to build a new Big Three, according to Jovan Buha of The Athletic.

In the latest episode of his “Buha’s Block” podcast, Buha mentioned that Mitchell “would be the preferred guy” in a major trade, contrasting this with previous reports linking Young and his Hawks teammate Dejounte Murray to the Lakers. 

The future of Mitchell with the Cavaliers should become clearer soon. The five-time All-Star is entering the final guaranteed year of his contract, and the Cavs might need to trade him if he indicates he plans to opt out in 2025 and doesn’t intend to re-sign. Cleveland cannot afford to lose him for nothing, especially considering the significant assets they gave up to acquire him.

Despite the trade speculation, Mitchell could remain with the Cavs and sign a substantial extension. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski shared on NBA Countdown that Mitchell expressed his happiness in Cleveland and said he has “been happy since I arrived in Cleveland.”

If the Lakers have to explore other options, it will be interesting to see if they pursue Young and whether they target a different guard from the Cavs.

According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Joe Vardon, and Jason Lloyd, if Mitchell signs a new contract, Darius Garland’s representatives might request a trade. Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports reported that many teams rank Garland higher than Young on their wish lists. Garland’s annual salary is slightly lower than Young’s, he’s a year younger, and Fischer noted Garland has demonstrated greater flexibility, having successfully shared a backcourt with Mitchell.

This isn’t the first indication that Young’s stock might be declining. In April, NBA insider Marc Stein reported a growing belief that the Hawks might prefer to trade Young over Murray. Fischer echoed this sentiment earlier this month.

It would be significant if the Lakers and other teams aggressively target Garland over Young, despite Young’s superior stats and individual accolades.

LeBron James is in line for help in LA as a star free agent-to-be ponders joining the Lakers

James himself will be a free agent if he declines his player option

Lapresse

Few teams in the NBA will be as heavily scrutinized this offseason as the Los Angeles Lakers. Following a first-round playoff exit to the Denver Nuggets, the Lakers fired head coach Darvin Ham after two seasons in charge, and the franchise is sweating LeBron James‘ decision as to whether he wants to stay in Los Angeles for 2024/25.

James can dictate his future thanks to the player option he holds for next season, and he is expected to decline that option and hit free agency at 39 years old. While some expect the NBA‘s all-time top scorer to re-sign with the Lakers eventually, LeBron is too smart to return to a team that has disappointed him in recent years without some assurances that it can compete at a championship level in 2025.

Parker Johnson 

DeMar DeRozan ponders “heading home”

One player that might help LeBron in his quest for a fourth (and potentially final) championship ring is DeMar DeRozan, the Chicago Bulls swingman who is slated to hit free agency this summer as well. DeRozan averaged 24 points per game this season while averaging a career-high 38 minutes per night on a Chicago team that missed out on the playoffs after losing to the Miami Heat in the Play-In Tournament.

DeRozan turns 35 years old in August, but the former Toronto Raptors star continues to perform at a high level and has shown few signs of slowing down. And more importantly to the Lakers, DeRozan has told the “Run It Back” podcast that he would be open to returning to Los Angeles — where he was 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧, raised, and played college basketball for the USC Trojans.

However, DeRozan seems to be giving priority to the Bulls if they wish to re-sign him. DeRozan has spent the past three seasons in Chicago and has been selected to two All-Star teams. He has twice been a finalist for the NBA’s Clutch Player of the Year award, and if he were to leave Chicago, there’s little doubt that LeBron would welcome his 21.2 career points per game average playing in purple and gold.