Latest news with #2020NBAFinals
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
LeBron James Gets Real On What Made The Lakers' 2020 Backcourt Special
(Oct 11, 2020; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Rajon Rondo (9) holds the trophy as he celebrates with teammates after game six of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena. The Los Angeles Lakers won 106-93 to win the series. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-Imagn Images) (Oct 11, 2020; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Rajon Rondo (9) holds the trophy as he celebrates with teammates after game six of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena. The Los Angeles Lakers won 106-93 to win the series. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-Imagn Images) LeBron James Gets Real On What Made The Lakers' 2020 Backcourt Special originally appeared on Fadeaway World. In the latest episode of the 'Mind the Game' podcast, LeBron James reflected on the 2020 squad that won it all. What the Lakers had was special that year, and LeBron identified the backcourt rotation, in particular, as one of the keys to their success. Advertisement 'We had AC (Caruso) as a defender, and we also had Rondo as an offensive guy," said James. "They had the luxury and the freedom to just make up sh*t. And you knew it was going to be beneficial to the team." LeBron called out his former teammate, Alex Caruso, by name as one glaring example of basketball efficiency. Caruso was not a star for the Lakers, but he played both ends of the floor effectively and was known for making game-winning plays. "A guy like AC, he's so intellectual, so smart, that he knows that if my teammate is helping me, and there's a full body at the nail... I gotta get back and help my team," said James. "He's one of my favorite teammates of all time, Alex Caruso. He's the ultimate Swiss Army knife. We've seen him guard Giannis, we've seen him guard [Nikola Jokic], we've seen him guard Ant." In the aftermath of another disappointing playoff run, LeBron (age 40) finds himself looking back on better times as he approaches a critical offseason. With retirement quickly approaching, James wants to win one last title before it's all said and done, but it's proving to be difficult with overwhelming challenges in the West. Advertisement The Lakers have yet to find a spark to replicate the 2019-20 campaign when they finished at the top of the West before winning the NBA Finals. Fresh off the trade for Anthony Davis, the Lakers' game plan centered around LeBron James and Anthony Davis, but it also relied on key contributions from role players like Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Alex Caruso. Caruso was only in his third NBA season at the time, but his two-way play at point guard was huge for the Lakers, and it earned him a permanent place in the rotation until he left in the summer of 2021. For some reason, instead of running it back with that championship team, the Lakers broke them up in a move they've come to regret. Caruso was not part of that initial breakup, but his stay in Los Angeles was short-lived at just four seasons. Now, Caruso is in the NBA Finals with his new team: the Oklahoma City Thunder. With averages of 7.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game on 44.6% shooting this season, he's thriving after being tossed by the Lakers and has a chance to win his second NBA championship in seven years. Advertisement While it's too late to bring Caruso back, LeBron still celebrates his contributions to a piece of Lakers history. Without Caruso or veteran guard Rajon Rondo in the mix, it would have been much harder for the Lakers to keep up with the depth of their playoff competitors. Thanks to their presence off the bench and the leadership of LeBron, the Lakers were able to play smart, and it's what ultimately led to their championship victory. With such a special and unique squad, it's no wonder that the Lakers have been unable to replicate their miraculous 2020 run. With guys like Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Jaxson Hayes on the roster, the Lakers are much less methodical, and they haven't been able to maximize their roster in quite the same way. Related: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Says LeBron James Would Be The GOAT If The Lakers Kept Their 2020 Championship Team Intact This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
31-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Laker, 2020 NBA champion on why it's hard to play with LeBron James
Former Laker, 2020 NBA champion on why it's hard to play with LeBron James When the Los Angeles Lakers won the NBA championship during the 2019-20 season, they didn't have an overwhelmingly talented roster outside of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. But they did have a number of valuable role players who all chipped in to bring home the Larry O'Brien Trophy. One of those role players was Danny Green. The veteran wing signed as a free agent with the Lakers in the summer of 2019, and his defense and 3-point shooting were sizable keys to their championship run. But during an appearance on the "All the Smoke" podcast, Green said that playing alongside James wasn't easy. It wasn't that James himself made things difficult, but the superstar's legion of fans would be hard on him if he wasn't getting the job done (h/t Lakers Daily). 'He made the game very easy,' Green said of James. 'But…there are times where it's not as easy because there's so much pressure, even if you're wide open, to execute the play because you're playing with LeBron James. And that's more so on the outside than it is on the inside 'cause Bron ain't putting the pressure on you. 'But all the LeBron fans are like, 'Who's this bum? Why is he playing with — he can't make a damn shot.' You know what I'm saying? So, it's a gift and a curse, but he made the game easy, man. 'And it was a lot of fun learning from him early on, a lot of fun playing against him and then even better to play with him, and then it was the bubble, but winning the championship with him. It was great, man, so I couldn't ask for a better scenario.' James has many devoted fans who are unquestionably loyal to him and will go to great lengths to defend him. Some seem to feel that such fans even have the tendency to blame others when things don't go well for James or his team. In Game 5 of the 2020 NBA Finals, the Lakers led the series 3-1 over the Miami Heat and needed just one more win to wrap up the world title. They trailed 109-108 in the closing seconds, and James found Green for an open 3-pointer that Green missed, allowing Miami to win and send the series to a sixth game. Although the Lakers won Game 6 convincingly, Green received death threats after missing the shot in Game 5 that would've concluded matters. In the end, he received his third championship ring following that Game 6 victory. He had won it all the previous season with the Toronto Raptors and in 2014 with the San Antonio Spurs.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
LeBron James Doesn't Hold Back in Strong Message to Critics
On the latest episode of "Mind the Game" with Hall of Famer Steve Nash, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James spoke about his critics. James is one of the most scrutinized players in NBA history. Many of James' critics bash him when he doesn't take the final shot for his team. Advertisement In Game 5 of the 2020 NBA Finals between the Lakers and Miami Heat, James passed the ball to Danny Green, who was wide open from 3. Green, though, missed the shot and the Lakers lost to the Heat by a final score of 111-108. After the game, James' critics ripped him for not taking the last shot, even though the leading scorer in NBA history was guarded by multiple players. James spoke about those critics with Nash. "Even with the criticism, and it still goes on, like in the 2020 Finals. I had an unbelievable game against the Heat. Late in the game, I drove the ball. Two or three defenders came at me. I found Danny Green wide open for a three. He missed it. And we went to Game 6. I'd make that play every time," James said. "And people say, 'Why didn't you take the shot? There he goes again passing up the shot.' Advertisement "They've never been there. They don't understand. One of my favorite quotes, though I don't know it verbatim, is from Theodore Roosevelt about the man in the arena. It is not the critic who counts. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena. And the loudest voices are always from those not in the arena. So, how can you challenge what I'm doing if you've never even stepped foot in there?" Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James© Matt Blewett-Imagn Images James and the Lakers wound up winning the 2020 Finals in six games at the Walt Disney World bubble. James is a four-time MVP, a four-time champion and a four-time Finals MVP. He became the No. 1 scorer of all time in 2023. Advertisement A future Hall of Famer, James has played for the Cleveland Cavaliers (twice), Heat and Lakers. He's the only player in NBA history to rank top five all-time in points and assists. The 40-year-old James has career averages of 27.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.7 blocks. Related: LeBron James' Former Teammate Issues Strong Statement on Steph Curry
