Despite playing without LeBron James, the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Sacramento Kings at home on Saturday night. Due to illness, James was unable to play in the game, but Austin Reaves and Anthony Davis both performed admirably in his place.
After the game, Davis was asked what he planned to get the child from Akron for James’s 40th birthday, which is just one day away.
“You know he’s turning forty?” According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin on X, formerly Twitter, it reflected Davis. It’s a significant turning point. I appreciate you reminding me, and I’ll probably get him a bottle of wine or something. I’m not a good friend.
Over the years, LeBron James has made no secret of his love for wine.
Are the Lakers acquiring new equipment?
LeBron James has looked as healthy as he has in years since rejoining the club after missing two games. He has combined his incredible basketball intelligence with a lot more springy athleticism than we saw early in the season.
Rob Pelinka and company made it obvious on Sunday that they are not content with the squad they currently have in the locker room. The Lakers were able to harness that energy in their victory over the nosediving Kings on Saturday night, even though they were playing without James.
Shams Charania of ESPN first reported that morning that the Lakers had traded Shake Milton and Dorian Finney-Smith to the Brooklyn Nets for D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis, and three first-round selections.
With Finney-Smith, a dynamic three-and-D wing who is shooting well over 40 percent from outside the three-point line this season, the Lakers no longer have to worry about which version of Russell will play in crucial games thanks to the trade.
In the process, the Lakers were also able to keep all of their first-round picks (at least, the ones they hadn’t already traded away), which means they may still be able to optimize the roster around James and Davis and try to cash in their assets.
A team actively looking to develop a championship challenger around the age of 40 is unusual in NBA history, but James hasn’t been overly concerned with historical precedent throughout his eventual Hall of Fame career.
The next game Los Angeles will play is against the Cleveland Cavaliers at home on Tuesday night.
