LeBron James is in his seventh season with the Los Angeles Lakers. Whereas the 2020 NBA Championship marked the top of his tenure with the franchise, the connection seems to be going through a much less harmonious section. With rumors of a possible departure swirling, Carmelo Anthony shared his perspective on the matter.
“LeBron makes the trades, so if he needs to get traded, he’ll get traded,” Anthony declared throughout an look on the 7PM in Brooklyn podcast. The 40-year-old former NBA star, who performed alongside LeBron, emphasised that James holds vital affect over his future and would depart if he really needed to.
Nevertheless, Anthony additionally offered reassurance for Lakers followers. “I feel that window closed shut,” he defined, suggesting that if LeBron had critical intentions of leaving Los Angeles, it will have already occurred. “It was a cut-off date perhaps final yr or a little bit little bit of time in the past the place there was a thought like, ‘rattling, this might be a risk.’”
Carmelo’s shut relationship with LeBron provides weight to his feedback. The 2 have been teammates in Los Angeles through the 2021-2022 season, Carmelo’s last yr as an expert, and so they have an extended historical past collectively on Crew USA. They secured Olympic bronze in Athens 2004 and gold medals in Beijing 2008 and London 2012.
Los Angeles Lakers ahead Carmelo Anthony #7 and Los Angeles Lakers ahead LeBron James #6 through the recreation in opposition to the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum on December 29, 2021.
What might be subsequent for LeBron?
If LeBron James have been to depart the Lakers—a situation Carmelo now deems unlikely—one potential vacation spot might be the Golden State Warriors. Pairing James with Stephen Curry would electrify NBA followers and immediately place Steve Kerr’s staff as title favorites.
Discussing the potential of such a commerce, Anthony highlighted the significance of property the Lakers may search in return. “The (Jonathan) Kuminga a part of that commerce is a giant headline. He’s a serious piece,” the previous New York Knicks star famous, referencing one potential centerpiece in a hypothetical deal.
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LeBron’s season to this point
In what has been an inconsistent season for the Lakers, LeBron James has continued to ship robust performances whereas going through occasional struggles. Having performed in 24 of the staff’s 26 video games, James is averaging 35 minutes per recreation with 22.8 factors, putting him among the many league’s high 30 scorers.
Moreover, he’s averaging 8.0 rebounds and 9.1 assists per recreation, rating fourth in assists this season. These numbers underscore his ongoing affect, at the same time as he approaches his fortieth birthday. Regardless of some dips in output, LeBron’s stats reaffirm his enduring significance because the Lakers’ chief.
