LeBron James' pep talk for Luka Dončić had an awkward connection to Kevin Love
Luka Dončić made his long-awaited Los Angeles Lakers debut on Monday and no one was more ready to see it than his new teammate LeBron James.
As the Lakers huddled up before the team, James gave his usual pep talk and singled out Dončić, telling the 25-year-old, "Luka, be your f***ing self. Don't fit in, fit the f*** out. Be yourself." The Lakers went on to dominate the Utah Jazz, with Dončić scoring 14 points.
"Luka, be your f---ing self. Don't fit in, fit the f--- out."-LeBron to Luka 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/qj8Tbk8M8R
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 11, 2025
James' message to Dončić was a cool moment for most people, with one notable exception.
NBA fans with strong memories might remember that James and Kevin Love had some issues getting on the same page during their first season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, so much so that James posted one of the most obvious subtweets in NBA history.
The message: don't fit out, just fit in. Ergo, the exact opposite of what James said to Dončić.
Stop trying to find a way to FIT-OUT and just FIT-IN. Be apart of something special! Just my thoughts
— LeBron James (@KingJames) February 8, 2015
Love definitely didn't enjoy that message at the time and still wasn't happy about it a few years later, calling it "extremely passive aggressive and silly," while conceding he did have to make some changes.
Time has apparently healed this wound, at least, as Love, now playing with the Miami Heat, humorously pointed out the difference on Instagram with the hashtag "#LeHurtMyFeelings."
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Kevin Love (@kevinlove)
The Lakers acquired Dončić earlier this month in perhaps the most shocking trade in NBA history, and the reaction has been what you would expect in the two markets most affected. Los Angeles is elated to receive a young top 5 player who can guide them in their post-James era, while Dallas is seething to the point that fans are getting kicked out of the arena amid increased security for the Mavericks.
The trade has become no better for Dallas in the week since it was executed. The Lakers still haven't lost a game since the move, while Davis is already out multiple weeks due to an adductor strain.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Mavericks believe Jason Kidd will return as head coach next season, not fill Knicks vacancy: Sources
Amid widespread speculation that Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd could force his way out to join the New York Knicks, there are strong signs that the 52-year-old Hall of Famer will stay put. As The Athletic reported, the Knicks have serious interest in hiring Kidd — who has two seasons left on his contract — after they shockingly fired Tom Thibodeau last week. Yet according to team and league sources, the Mavericks continue to privately insist to key stakeholders that Kidd won't be going anywhere. According to a team source, the Knicks had yet to request permission to speak with Kidd as of Tuesday afternoon. Advertisement The widely held belief is that Kidd, ultimately, is hoping to parlay the Knicks' interest into a lucrative contract extension. It remains to be seen how Kidd might respond if he doesn't get the desired extension, and there is historical precedent here when it comes to Kidd spurning the Mavericks for the Knicks. At the end of his decorated 19-year playing career — in the summer of 2012 — Kidd was expected to re-sign with the Mavericks in free agency. But he changed course abruptly, signing a multiyear deal to play alongside Carmelo Anthony in New York. As of now, the Mavericks don't believe that Kidd will leave them for the Knicks again. Kidd has been present at the Mavericks' practice facility this past week as they've held workouts and has functioned in a business-as-usual capacity. What's more, the negotiations with former Toronto Raptors and Phoenix Suns head coach Jay Triano for a lead assistant-coaching position with the Mavericks have been revealing when it comes to Kidd. According to a league source, Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison made it clear to Triano during the process that Kidd would remain the head coach. Triano, the league source said, agreed to terms on the assistant position on Tuesday. NBA reporter Jake Fischer was first to report on the Mavericks' interest in Triano. Triano has spent the past three years as a Sacramento Kings assistant. In September, he was promoted to associate head coach. The Kings fired his boss Mike Brown in December and tapped Doug Christie for their head-coaching position. The Knicks are the only NBA team with a head-coaching vacancy right now. They fired Thibodeau after he led them to the playoffs in four of the five years he was in charge. New York made the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in 25 years this past spring, but it still decided to part ways with Thibodeau. Advertisement Kidd, who was one of the candidates the Knicks interviewed in their 2020 hiring cycle, has a strong relationship with New York's star point guard in Jalen Brunson. Kidd coached Brunson for one season with the Mavericks in 2021-22. Brunson's strong performance in the 2022 playoffs helped him earn a four-year, $104 million deal with the Knicks. The Mavericks have downplayed the possibility of a Kidd-Brunson reunion this week. The belief internally in Dallas is that Kidd will be the team's coach next season.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Zach Edey has left ankle surgery that could sideline him for the start of next season
FILE - Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (14) reacts in the first half of Game 3 of an NBA first-round playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Memphis, Tenn., on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill, File) MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Zach Edey could miss the start of the 2025-26 season after the Memphis Grizzlies rookie center had surgery Tuesday on his left ankle. Edey needed the procedure to repair and restabilize his ankle after spraining it again during offseason training last week. The Grizzlies said the 7-foot-3 Canadian would be evaluated again in four months, which is less than two weeks before the 2025-26 season opens Oct. 21. Advertisement The two-time national player of the year at Purdue missed 12 games early in the season because of a sprained left ankle. He went on to play in 66 games, making 55 starts, and averaged 9.2 points and a rookie-leading 8.3 rebounds. He was voted to the All-Rookie first team. ___ AP NBA:
Associated Press
an hour ago
- Associated Press
Zach Edey has left ankle surgery that could sideline him for the start of next season
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Zach Edey could miss the start of the 2025-26 season after the Memphis Grizzlies rookie center had surgery Tuesday on his left ankle. Edey needed the procedure to repair and restabilize his ankle after spraining it again during offseason training last week. The Grizzlies said the 7-foot-3 Canadian would be evaluated again in four months, which is less than two weeks before the 2025-26 season opens Oct. 21. The two-time national player of the year at Purdue missed 12 games early in the season because of a sprained left ankle. He went on to play in 66 games, making 55 starts, and averaged 9.2 points and a rookie-leading 8.3 rebounds. He was voted to the All-Rookie first team. ___ AP NBA:
