A day after the Lakers were eliminated by the Minnesota Timberwolves, Pierce said that getting back to championship contention will require moving on from LeBron James and building a team around their new star, Luka Dončić. “If the Lakers want to get back to a championship contender moving forward, you have to get out of the constraints of the LeBron James era,” Pierce said on FS1’s Speak. “He’s had a grasp of the whole organization, bear-hugging them, for so long now. He’s done some wonderful things for the Lakers organization. They’re probably gonna build a statue of LeBron. But I’m just saying, they have to say, ‘Bron, we appreciate your services, I think we should move on.’ It’s time for the Luka era now, ’cause I don’t know if you can play them together moving forward. You have to have a certain kind of team around Luka to win. And him with LeBron, you won’t be able to create that.”
Source: Awful Announcing
Source: Awful Announcing
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
David MacKay @DavidMacKayNBA
If you think LeBron James’ MCL sprain is a PR play, you are, in fact, a clown. – 6:56 PM
If you think LeBron James’ MCL sprain is a PR play, you are, in fact, a clown. – 6:56 PM
Chris Haynes @ChrisBHaynes
On this Haynes Briefs EP, my guest is Rich Paul who pulled up for an hour. Playoff chat, LeBron James’ future, LeBron playing entire second half, Luka-AD saga and much more. Comical/informative. Subscribe. #haynesbriefs
m.youtube.com/watch?v=WnEcId… pic.x.com/GIj41x8sCa – 6:41 PM
On this Haynes Briefs EP, my guest is Rich Paul who pulled up for an hour. Playoff chat, LeBron James’ future, LeBron playing entire second half, Luka-AD saga and much more. Comical/informative. Subscribe. #haynesbriefs
m.youtube.com/watch?v=WnEcId… pic.x.com/GIj41x8sCa – 6:41 PM
Sirius XM NBA @SiriusXMNBA
“Are there any plumbers on the list?!” 😂🤣
Hear Steve Francis react to being in the same category as Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Oscar Robertson 👀
@TheFrankIsola | @Scalabrine pic.x.com/j0uOg5Kc62 – 6:12 PM
“Are there any plumbers on the list?!” 😂🤣
Hear Steve Francis react to being in the same category as Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Oscar Robertson 👀
@TheFrankIsola | @Scalabrine pic.x.com/j0uOg5Kc62 – 6:12 PM
Jorge Sierra @hoopshype
LeBron James has dropped to No. 31 on the list of players with the best winning percentages in NBA playoffs history (minimum: 100 games).
Michael Jordan is at No. 13… with 65 fewer wins, though.
hoopshype.com/lists/nba-play… – 4:28 PM
LeBron James has dropped to No. 31 on the list of players with the best winning percentages in NBA playoffs history (minimum: 100 games).
Michael Jordan is at No. 13… with 65 fewer wins, though.
hoopshype.com/lists/nba-play… – 4:28 PM
Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
TBH, I suspect LeBron not being willing to take a pay cut has a ripple effect that leads to the Lakers emphasizing the future over the present a bit in this offseason.
If their immediate title odds are lower, I suspect they try to hoard 2026 cap space with whatever they do now. – 4:13 PM
TBH, I suspect LeBron not being willing to take a pay cut has a ripple effect that leads to the Lakers emphasizing the future over the present a bit in this offseason.
If their immediate title odds are lower, I suspect they try to hoard 2026 cap space with whatever they do now. – 4:13 PM
Emiliano Carchia @Sportando
LeBron James: “It’s not my job to convince Luka Dončić to stay with the Lakers” sportando.basketball/en/lebron-jame… – 3:40 PM
LeBron James: “It’s not my job to convince Luka Dončić to stay with the Lakers” sportando.basketball/en/lebron-jame… – 3:40 PM
Dave McMenamin @mcten
Luka Doncic will have a contract decision to make with the Lakers. LeBron James told ESPN, he will not try to sway his young teammate, cognizant of their career timelines. Full story: espn.com/nba/story/_/id… pic.x.com/ERk3poaXqm – 3:20 PM
Luka Doncic will have a contract decision to make with the Lakers. LeBron James told ESPN, he will not try to sway his young teammate, cognizant of their career timelines. Full story: espn.com/nba/story/_/id… pic.x.com/ERk3poaXqm – 3:20 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
Most PPG by a player 35 or older this playoffs:
25.4 — LeBron
23.4 — Steph
20.7 — Harden
15.8 — Jimmy
13.4 — Russ
7.0 — Horford
6.4 — Draymond
6.0 — Batum pic.x.com/4sbYZkjWXX – 2:43 PM
Most PPG by a player 35 or older this playoffs:
25.4 — LeBron
23.4 — Steph
20.7 — Harden
15.8 — Jimmy
13.4 — Russ
7.0 — Horford
6.4 — Draymond
6.0 — Batum pic.x.com/4sbYZkjWXX – 2:43 PM
Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
“The Lakers needed LeBron to score more in 4th quarters vs. Minnesota” is not the same as “LeBron had a bad series.” The first one is true. The second one is not. BK – 2:18 PM
“The Lakers needed LeBron to score more in 4th quarters vs. Minnesota” is not the same as “LeBron had a bad series.” The first one is true. The second one is not. BK – 2:18 PM
Emiliano Carchia @Sportando
LeBron James suffers MCL sprain in left knee, out 3-5 weeks sportando.basketball/en/lebron-jame… – 1:57 PM
LeBron James suffers MCL sprain in left knee, out 3-5 weeks sportando.basketball/en/lebron-jame… – 1:57 PM
Dave McMenamin @mcten
Story filed to ESPN.com: LeBron James suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee from his collision with Donte DiVincenzo in Wednesday’s Game 5, a league source told ESPN. The injury entails a 3-5 week recovery timeline. – 1:42 PM
Story filed to ESPN.com: LeBron James suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee from his collision with Donte DiVincenzo in Wednesday’s Game 5, a league source told ESPN. The injury entails a 3-5 week recovery timeline. – 1:42 PM
Sam Amick @sam_amick
LeBron James’ comment about Anthony Davis was eyebrow-raising considering the context.
His view of the roster, sources say, is part of his calculus this summer. More here on the Lakers’ frustrating finish and their uncertain future, w/ @jovanbuha
nytimes.com/athletic/63281… – 1:27 PM
LeBron James’ comment about Anthony Davis was eyebrow-raising considering the context.
His view of the roster, sources say, is part of his calculus this summer. More here on the Lakers’ frustrating finish and their uncertain future, w/ @jovanbuha
nytimes.com/athletic/63281… – 1:27 PM
Sam Amick @sam_amick
Diving into the Lakers offseason, with @jovanbuha, at @TheAthletic
* Intel on LeBron scenarios (including non-Lakers)
* Luka’s contract options, and long-term vision
* The pressure (again) that’s on Rob Pelinka to find a big man
nytimes.com/athletic/63281… – 11:43 AM
Diving into the Lakers offseason, with @jovanbuha, at @TheAthletic
* Intel on LeBron scenarios (including non-Lakers)
* Luka’s contract options, and long-term vision
* The pressure (again) that’s on Rob Pelinka to find a big man
nytimes.com/athletic/63281… – 11:43 AM
Michael Grange @michaelgrange
IYCMI — on LeBron and the upcomming off-season of change: sportsnet.ca/nba/article/le… – 8:47 AM
IYCMI — on LeBron and the upcomming off-season of change: sportsnet.ca/nba/article/le… – 8:47 AM
More on this storyline
When Bronny and LeBron James became the first father-son duo in NBA history, their relationship took on a different dimension. “It’s a blessing,” Bronny told FOX Sports. “Being able to learn from him, not only as a player, but as a dad. It’s a different type of relationship. I try to take full advantage of it because it’s something that a lot of people can’t have. It was an amazing experience for me. And I’m looking forward to learning more from him, if he’s still here or not, either way. But I’m just looking forward to it.” -via FoxSports.com / May 3, 2025
As LeBron contemplates his future, with a $52.6 million player option looming, Bronny made it clear he wants his father to return for another season as his teammate. “Yeah, for sure,” Bronny told FOX Sports. “However long he can come back for, it’s always a pleasure being around him. He’s locked in. The stuff he does for his body and the preparation and stuff like that, I want to take full advantage of it.” -via FoxSports.com / May 3, 2025
James made a concerted effort to empower Doncic since he arrived in L.A., sources said, and will not try to sway his teammate’s decision. “No, that ain’t my job,” James told ESPN. “I think … I don’t think, I know, Luka knows how I feel about him. And ultimately, that trade happened for the future. That’s not for me. Luka has to decide what he has to do with his future. He’s [26] years old, I’m 40, so he can’t be basing his career off me. That’s just real. “But I hope, obviously, [he stays long term]. Laker fans f—ing love him here. L.A. has accepted him. We love him as a teammate, as a brother. But ultimately, he’s got to make a decision for him. S—, I ain’t going to be around much longer.” -via ESPN / May 2, 2025
Popovich has been a fierce advocate of Pierce ever since Mike Brown and Brett Brown recommended that Popovich choose him as an assistant on the national team staff. When Pierce was fired by the Atlanta Hawks in March 2021, in his third season as head coach, Popovich publicly defended him, dismissing that decision as “missing on a really good player in the draft or evaluating somebody wrongly.” He also called Pierce right away, wanting to make something crystal clear to him. “Hey, I just want to let you know I think it’s bulls—,” Popovich told Pierce. “But also, I want to make sure you know that you’re still part of the Olympic staff.” Pierce was hired as the lead assistant for the Pacers in July 2021. Through it all, having Popovich’s stamp of approval has been deeply meaningful to him. “It just validates what you’re doing, keep doing,” Pierce said. “And it’s really that simple. Because if Pop approves, f— everyone else.” -via FoxSports.com / May 2, 2025
StatMuse: Jalen Brunson has more 30-point playoff games than Clyde Drexler Patrick Ewing Julius Erving Moses Malone DeMar DeRozan Paul Pierce Jaylen Brown Magic Johnson Chauncey Billups Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Ray Allen Vince Carter Tracy McGrady Dominique Wilkins Klay Thompson pic.x.com/1o7kWPrjku -via Twitter @statmuse / May 1, 2025
Jorge Sierra: Draymond Green tied Alonzo Mourning in playoff blocks for No. 21 in NBA history. Jimmy Butler passed Paul Pierce in playoff steals for No. 30 all-time. -via Twitter @hoopshype / April 21, 2025