LeBron James made his much-anticipated return to the court after a 13-game absence due to a foot injury, but it was Patrick Beverly and the Chicago Bulls who spoiled the party for the Lakers. The Bulls beat the Lakers 118-108, with Beverly taking revenge on his former team and even trolling James in the process.
During the fourth quarter, Beverly hit a basket and then proceeded to celebrate with the “too small” gesture toward James, making it clear that he was not intimidated by the superstar’s presence on the court. Beverly also gestured towards Lakers’ superfan Shannon Sharpe, indicating that the Lakers stink.
Despite the loss, James managed to score 19 points off the bench in 30 minutes of play. Meanwhile, Beverly had a solid game, contributing 10 points, five assists, and four rebounds in his 23 minutes on the court.
Beverly was traded from the Lakers to the Orlando Magic before having his contract bought out, allowing him to sign with his hometown Bulls. The veteran point guard made the most of his return to Los Angeles by leading his team to a crucial victory against his former squad and taunting James in the process.
The Lakers’ loss came as a blow to their playoff hopes, as they continue to struggle with injuries and inconsistent performances. However, with James back on the court, they will be hoping to bounce back and secure their spot in the postseason.
While Beverly’s antics may have rubbed some Lakers fans the wrong way, it is clear that the fiery point guard is not one to back down from a challenge, and he will continue to bring his trademark intensity to the court as the Bulls push for a playoff spot.
Popovich’s Humorous Fear: Facing the Monstrous LeBron James in LA
San Antonio Spurs head coach, Gregg Popovich, has always held LeBron James in high regard and shared mutual respect with him, particularly during finals bouts between Popovich’s Spurs teams and LeBron’s Cavaliers and Heat teams.
However, in 2018, James’ move to the LA Lakers had an impact on Popovich, who joked about his fear of facing James in Los Angeles. LA welcomed James with billboards and murals everywhere, which had a drastic impact on anybody coming over.
Popovich had to face a big picture of James outside his hotel room, and he jokingly said, “He’s already big, and now he’s monstrous. I was scared to death.” Despite this, the Spurs eventually won the game in LA, but LeBron was still in the early stages of cementing his legacy as a Laker.
James is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in NBA history, having spent most of his career in the East, and has earned the respect of players and coaches alike.
