In this uncertain NBA season, the ups and downs of the Lakers' record have attracted a lot of attention. They recently beat the Raptors, and the win not only boosted the team's morale, but also gave them a hint of stability. But I have to say that the overall state of the Lakers is still a bit worrying. Their 19-19 record, to be honest, is a bit mediocre and not up to the level that satisfies the fans. Against this backdrop, Lakers big man LeBron James has made some notable achievements off the court.
Let's start with James' news. NBA REPORTER SHAMS BROKE THE NEWS THAT JAMES RECENTLY SIGNED A MULTI-YEAR DEAL WITH FANATICS COLLECTIBLES. This is not only a new career breakthrough for James, but also a symbol of his continued growth of influence outside the NBA. Moreover, this collaboration is not the first time for him, but this time he has chosen a new partner. Another interesting point is that James also signed a special edition card with his eldest son, Bronny James, which can't help but make people feel the basketball relationship between father and son.
Let's talk about the Lakers on the court. While they have won back-to-back victories over the Raptors and Clippers, those victories don't seem all that convincing. Some commentators have pointed out that these victories were partly due to the referee's decision and the opponent's poor form. In this case, the Lakers' victory seems a little reluctant, especially under the leadership of the two core players James and thick eyebrows.
Another player for the Lakers, Russell, has also been in the media spotlight lately. According to Lakers reporter John Buha, Russell declined media interviews after the victory over the Raptors, and this is the second consecutive postgame refusal. This rare behavior seems to reveal that he may have something wrong with his mentality. Although he played well against the Raptors, his playing time was compressed to just 16 minutes, which undoubtedly exacerbated his dissatisfaction.
For now, it looks like Russell has become a possible trade target for the Lakers. He only has two years left on his contract with the Lakers, a player option for the second year, and he's waived his trade veto. Although he has been doing well this season, averaging 18 points and 6 assists per game and shooting over 40% from three-point range, trade rumors surrounding him continue. The Lakers seem to have lost interest in him, which is certainly a huge blow for a player.
The Lakers' overall record and form don't seem to be going as planned. I remember that at the beginning of the season, coach Ham said that he wanted to control the playing time of James and Bushy Eyebrows. But as the season progressed, it didn't seem like much of a plan was being executed. James and Bushy Eyebrows' playing time has not decreased, but because of the needs of the team, their pressure has increased. In this case, there was a clear gap between the team's actual performance and the original plan.
Against this backdrop, the Lakers need to make changes and may need to make some trades. For the team, delaying the trade is not good for anyone. If the Lakers are going to make a trade, they need to move as soon as possible in order to finalize the roster as soon as possible and enter the run-in period. It's good for the team as a whole and it's important for the mentality of the individual players.
While the Lakers' on-court performance has been challenging, James' off-court career development is worth watching. His new partnership agreement not only adds to his personal wealth, but also boosts his influence. Outside of the NBA, James' business footprint continues to expand, showing how many facets he is beyond being a top athlete.
Talk about James' eldest son, Bronny James, who is also starting to make his mark in the basketball world. The one-of-a-kind card signed with his father not only symbolizes the basketball heritage of two generations, but also foreshadows the possible influence of Bronny in the basketball world.
Coming back to the Lakers' performance, while the current situation is not very promising, this is only one part of a season. In a league as uncertain and changing as the NBA, anything can happen. The Lakers also have a chance to adjust their strategy and improve their performance. For the fans, the season is far from over, and every effort and change in the team is something to look forward to.