Lakers LeBron James Issues Big Warning Ahead Of Play-In

LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the New Orleans Pelicans, celebrating a much-needed 124-108 win. The four-time NBA champion delivered a monster performance and reminded the world that he can still do it at 39. LeBron also delivered a warning to the rest of the NBA ahead of the Play-In Tournament.

NBA analysts expressed some concerns about LeBron’s health at this point of the season. Well, the king of basketball feels much better than he did at the end of the 2022-23 season. He missed some games due to a wear-and-tear soreness, but it wasn’t that bad. LeBron is ready to take the floor and flash his dominance.

“Better than I did at the end of the season last year, going into the postseason,” LeBron said after Sunday’s win. “Obviously, still dealing with it, whatever the case may be, some small things here and some small things there. But I take a lot of pride in the offseason. Just trying to get my ankle and my foot back in order, get my body back in order throughout the regular season.”

LeBron wants his team to understand the challenge. They have to defeat the Pelicans again to get to No.7 in Western Conference seedings. It won’t be easy and the pressure is high. However, LeBron is determined to win.

“Tuesday’s game is going to be extremely hard, extremely difficult, extremely physical. You know, I’ve always known when you play a playoff series—and I am looking at this like a two-game playoff series—when you win that first game, a team has multiple days to kind of sit on that feeling, you know, sit with that taste in their mouth, of defeat, so, they’re gonna be extremely ready for us.

“We have to come in with the same sense of urgency we had the previous game.”

Lakers and LeBron have to show great results in the play-in tournament

LeBron is in his 21^st NBA season and his game is still elite. He averages 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 8.3 assists. His health was great and he played 71 games this season. Nothing beats his dominance and consistency.

“That’s pretty cool, at this point in my career to be able to play 70-plus games, be available for my guys, and only a couple of them because of injury or illness, being sick,” LeBron said.

In Sunday’s win over the Pelicans, LeBron delivered 28 points, 17 assists, 11 rebounds, and five steals. He had eight assistants in the first quarter of the game and yes, it was impressive.

“I just want to win, so whatever the game presents itself for me to be, more of an attacker in the scoring range, or if it needs me to be more of a set-up guy, or be more of a defender, I gotta do it all,” LeBron added. “I am a Swiss Army knife, so, I gotta do it all on the floor and none of it is predetermined.”