LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers got swept by the Denver Nuggets in the 2023 Western Conference Finals. The Nuggets, who won the NBA Finals versus the Miami Heat, took a few shots at the Lakers as part of their celebration tour.
Denver head coach Michael Malone was introduced as “the Lakers’ daddy” during the team’s parade. Malone also poked fun at LeBron’s retirement sentiments.
Speaking to reporters on October 21, LeBron said he doesn’t get motivated by teams or players who trash-talk him. The Lakers face the Nuggets on opening night in Denver.
“I don’t get motivated against [who] the opponents [are] pretty much anymore,” LeBron said. “I don’t need it. I don’t want to say I don’t get motivated to play, because I do get motivated to go against the competition, I love competing against the best. But I don’t need an individual or a team to motivate me. I’m self-motivated. I’m enough.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: LeBron James, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
LeBron averaged 28.9 points, 8.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists last season. The future Hall of Famer then put up 24.5 points, 9.9 boards and 6.5 assists per game in the 2023 playoffs against the Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors and Nuggets. The Akron native was still one of the best players in the NBA despite being 38 years old.
LeBron, who missed 27 games last season with a torn tendon in his right foot, is 100% again after a productive offseason.
“It took a few months, but then when I was able to get back into my workouts, I was able to do some things I wasn’t capable of doing throughout the whole playoffs, probably even before the playoffs,” LeBron said of his offseason rehab. “My workouts started getting better, my wind started getting better, my quick-twitch started getting better. I didn’t have to think about it as much. It’s great to have that feeling, just have your motor back.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: LeBron James, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
LeBron is averaging 27.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 8.0 assists in 278 games with the Lakers. He guided the franchise to the 2020 championship over the Heat in six games at the Walt Disney World bubble in Orlando, Florida.
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