LeBron scores 40 in Lakers win, talks retirement & Embiid set to return | NBA | FIRST THINGS FIRST
Summary
TLDRThe transcript discusses LeBron James' exceptional performance and work ethic, particularly at the age of 39, where he scored 40 points with nine three-pointers. It highlights his continuous improvement in shooting, despite being known for other skills earlier in his career. The conversation also touches on the potential for LeBron to still be a top contributor in winning titles and the challenges faced by the Lakers in the current NBA landscape. Additionally, there's speculation about the impact of Joel Embiid's return on the Philadelphia 76ers' playoff chances.
Takeaways
- 🏀 LeBron James continues to defy expectations at 39, showcasing an improved three-point shot.
- 🎯 Despite his age, LeBron's work ethic and adaptability have led to his fifth best field goal percentage and third best effective field goal percentage this season.
- 🏆 The discussion around the greatest athlete in history often includes LeBron, with his sustained performance into his late career.
- 🚫 The script suggests that the Lakers' front office, coaching, and drafting strategies may not be conducive to LeBron winning another title with the team.
- 🤔 The possibility of LeBron retiring before becoming a 'bad' player is discussed, with the belief that he will likely not continue if his performance significantly declines.
- 🌟 The Lakers' roster, while talented, may not be deep enough to compete with the top teams in the Western Conference.
- 🏅 Joel Embiid's return from injury could make the Philadelphia 76ers a dangerous team in the playoffs, assuming he can maintain his regular-season performance.
- 📈 Advanced stats place LeBron in the top ten in various categories, indicating that despite his age, he remains a high-level player.
- 🤷♂️ The script questions whether the Lakers should pursue a third star to complement LeBron and Anthony Davis, given the depth of talent required in today's NBA.
- 🏀 The overall talent level in the league is so high that even strong rosters can struggle to outperform their competitors.
Q & A
What is the main theme of the discussion in the transcript?
-The main theme of the discussion is the performance and work ethic of LeBron James, particularly his ability to adapt and improve his game even at an advanced age in his career.
How does the speaker describe LeBron James' development as a basketball player?
-The speaker describes LeBron James as one of the hardest-working athletes in American history who has continually improved his game. Initially not known as a shooter, LeBron has developed his three-point shooting skills over time, showcasing his adaptability and work ethic.
What was significant about LeBron James' performance at the age of 39?
-LeBron James scored 40 points with nine three-pointers at the age of 39, which is considered an impressive feat. This performance highlights his ability to add new elements to his game and maintain a high level of play despite his age.
How does the speaker compare LeBron James to other legendary athletes?
-The speaker compares LeBron James to other legendary athletes like Jim Thorp and Michael Jordan, discussing their work ethics and career achievements. The speaker also mentions other athletes like Kareem, Carl Malone, Kobe Bryant, and Magic Johnson in the context of their career longevity and performance in their later years.
What is the speaker's opinion on LeBron James' potential future performance?
-The speaker believes that LeBron James will never be 'bad' in terms of his performance on the court. He suggests that even if LeBron's skills were to decline, he would still be a valuable player due to his experience and work ethic.
What is the speaker's view on the Lakers' chances of winning another championship with LeBron James?
-The speaker expresses skepticism about the Lakers' chances of winning another championship with LeBron James, citing concerns about the team's front office, coaching, and drafting strategies.
How does the speaker evaluate the impact of Joel Embiid's injury and potential return on the Philadelphia 76ers' performance?
-The speaker believes that Joel Embiid's return could make the 76ers a very dangerous team in the playoffs. However, there are concerns about Embiid's stamina and whether his performance in the regular season will translate to the playoffs.
What is the speaker's opinion on the current state of the Los Angeles Lakers' roster?
-The speaker thinks the Lakers' roster is good but questions whether it is strong enough to win a championship. He suggests that the team's depth and overall talent may not be sufficient to compete with other top teams in the league.
What is the speaker's stance on the idea of teams resting players during the playoffs?
-The speaker acknowledges the modern strategy of resting players during the playoffs to manage injuries and maintain peak performance. However, he contrasts this with the 'old school' approach where players played almost every game and did not avoid opponents.
How does the speaker view the potential matchup between the 76ers and the Celtics in the playoffs?
-The speaker believes that if the 76ers were to face the Celtics in the playoffs, it would be a challenging matchup. He suggests that the 76ers would be better off facing a different team in the first round given Embiid's recent injury and the team's overall performance without him.
What is the speaker's perspective on the importance of a team's seed in the playoffs?
-The speaker suggests that the top seed in the playoffs should ideally be able to choose their playoff opponent. He argues that teams should aim for the best possible matchup to increase their chances of progressing further in the playoffs.
Outlines
🏀 LeBron James' Evolving Skillset and Work Ethic
This paragraph discusses LeBron James' incredible work ethic and his ability to adapt and improve his game over time. Despite being 39 years old, LeBron has managed to add a three-point shot to his game, showcasing his dedication and commitment to the sport. The speaker highlights LeBron's transition from not being a great shooter initially to becoming an impressive three-point threat, shooting 41.6% from beyond the arc. This evolution is seen as a testament to his hard work and willingness to evolve. The paragraph also touches on LeBron's career statistics, comparing his current performance to his previous seasons, and suggests that if LeBron had maintained his current shooting form during his prime, there would be no debate about the greatest of all time (GOAT) in basketball.
🤔 Speculations on LeBron's Future Performance and Legacy
In this paragraph, the discussion revolves around the potential future performance of LeBron James and the impact it could have on his legacy. The speaker contemplates whether LeBron will continue to play at a high level or eventually decline, as is typical for athletes. The conversation includes a comparison to other legendary athletes like Tom Brady and Jim Brown, highlighting the rarity of athletes retiring at their peak performance. The speaker also considers the possibility of LeBron retiring in five years and how that might affect his standing in the history of basketball. The paragraph emphasizes LeBron's current standing in the league, his advanced stats, and his potential to remain a top player, despite his age and the increasing depth of talent in the NBA.
🏆 Analyzing the Lakers' Roster and Championship Prospects
The focus of this paragraph is on the Los Angeles Lakers' roster and their chances of winning a championship with LeBron James. The speaker assesses the Lakers' current lineup, discussing the strengths and weaknesses of the team. The conversation includes a comparison of the Lakers' roster to other competitive teams in the Western Conference, such as Denver and Minnesota. The speaker questions whether the Lakers have the necessary depth and talent to compete for a championship, despite LeBron's individual performance. The paragraph also explores the hypothetical scenario of acquiring a third star player like Kyrie Irving and how that could potentially change the Lakers' championship prospects. The speaker concludes by expressing skepticism about the Lakers' current approach and LeBron's chances of winning another title with the team.
📊 Joel Embiid's Impact on the Philadelphia 76ers and Playoff Predictions
This paragraph centers on Joel Embiid's significance to the Philadelphia 76ers and the team's potential playoff performance. The speaker discusses Embiid's recent injury and the impact of his absence on the team's performance. The conversation delves into the potential challenges Embiid might face in the playoffs, such as minutes restrictions, stamina, and maintaining his regular-season form. The speaker also speculates on the 76ers' playoff seeding and their potential matchups against other strong teams in the Eastern Conference, like Miami and Milwaukee. The paragraph concludes with a discussion on the strategic considerations for playoff seeding and the potential advantages or disadvantages of facing certain teams in the post-season.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡LeBron James
💡Work Ethic
💡Three-Point Shooting
💡Athleticism
💡Career Longevity
💡GOAT Debate
💡Team Roster
💡Playoffs
💡Coaching
💡Draft Picks
💡Team Chemistry
Highlights
LeBron James is arguably one of the greatest athletes in American history, and also one of the hardest-working.
LeBron James managed to score 40 points with nine three-pointers at the age of 39, showcasing his adaptability and work ethic.
LeBron's shooting percentage from the three-point range has significantly improved, now at 41.6%, demonstrating his continuous effort to refine his skills.
This season, LeBron's performance statistics rank high in the league, indicating that despite his age, he remains a top player.
LeBron's career field goal percentage and three-point percentage this season are among the best in his 21 seasons.
LeBron's ability to maintain his performance into his late career is a testament to his exceptional work ethic and dedication.
LeBron's potential to still be a very good player at 42 in his 24th year is discussed, highlighting his unprecedented longevity.
The idea of LeBron never being 'bad' in his career is explored, emphasizing his consistent high-level performance.
LeBron's defensive capabilities have diminished due to age, but his overall game improvement compensates for this.
LeBron's impact on his team's success is discussed, and the possibility of him retiring if he is not contributing to winning.
The Lakers' front office, coaching, and drafting strategies are questioned in relation to LeBron's chances of winning another title.
The potential for LeBron to win another championship if he stays with the Lakers is discussed, with a focus on team dynamics and strategy.
The possibility of LeBron teaming up with another star player like Kyrie Irving for a potential championship run is considered.
The depth of talent in the current NBA league is highlighted, making it more challenging for individual stars to dominate.
The importance of coaching in a team's success is debated, with opinions on the effectiveness of current Lakers coaching.
The potential impact of Joel Embiid's return from injury on the Philadelphia 76ers' playoff chances is discussed.
Embiid's performance in the playoffs compared to the regular season is analyzed, with speculation on his potential this year.
The strategic considerations for playoff seeding and selecting opponents in the modern NBA are explored.
Transcripts
fly from New York better all the way
back all the way
back because it's April Fool's Day I
promise you a show with no jokes Rick
had a joke this morning no joke that's
where we're at he's like you guys should
all trade seats well yeah that that
would be just ratings Bonanza just no
jokes today I'm serious you can't do it
is that in addition to being arguably
the greatest athlete in American history
arguably just pure athlete okay Jim
fired up right
now there there's a discussion and Jim
Thorp can be in it too but LeBron James
is in it he also is one of the hardest
working athletes in American history
because he just did this at 39 years old
and it was 40 points on nine
three-pointers so to add something to
his game that's what that's where the
work ethic comes in when we know when
LeBron came into the league he wasn't
much of a shooter the strategy in the 20
207 finals when his first time he got
there San Antonio was to give him the
jump shot and it was the same thing in
2013 give him the jump shot all right
and now he goes out at 39 years old and
hits nine threes and it's not just what
we saw yesterday he's shooting
41.6% from three which this is a sign of
how good they shooted today he's still
only 21st in the league but still 41%
from three is incredible and so LeBron
having accomplished all he has for him
to add a the threo shot to his game it's
just a testament to his work ethic even
last year I know it was an aberration
but last year only shot 32% from three
he's a 34% almost 35% for his career so
this year he's just showing how much
work he put in in the off season and
even now and I'll say this I mean if he
had shot the three like this in his
prime there'd be no goat debate I mean
this would be ridiculous If he if he
shot it like this in his prime but still
to added this late in his career is is
impressive and shows how hard he works
well some context on that so he is right
of 21 Seasons he's played this is his
fifth best field goal percentage this is
his third best effective field goal
percentage his best ever three-point
percentage and his sixth most assist per
game of any season of his career so what
it appears to me is to offset some of
the losses in athleticism he has
compensated by improving the three-point
shot and he said when he was asked about
the difference between last year and
this year was he thought last year being
in and out of the lineup with injuries
and he talked about missing practices
and shoot arounds that he thought that
actually hampered his ability to that he
could have shot like this last year had
he been healthy but to me what he's
proving is I think he's further
validating something I said at the
beginning of the Season that I was
mocked for because it sounds silly you
know if you just read the quote but I I
don't brew and I are lucky that we have
been made fun of on the internet long
enough that it doesn't bother us anymore
one of the reasons I think Wilds refuses
to his Brew put it let the tiger out is
because he's relatively new to people
being mean to him on the internet so you
so you shy away from
it you don't brw so used to it there's
Brew can take things people made fun of
him for that he didn't actually say like
wimy is going to be better than AEM and
like you know what I I said it everybody
say I said it I said this a few months
ago and I believe it 100% to be true
he'll never be bad LeBron will never be
bad he said in the postgame interview
he's like I'm not going to play another
21 years I'm like okay well then my take
safe like in 20 years probably would be
bad but in 5 years wouldn't be five
years wouldn't be because he's you say
we don't know but we didn't Brew five
years ago even his biggest supporters
would have said in five years he will be
a shell of himself we can LeBron in year
21 has now lapped the other year 21s put
together that's all all of them that's
Vince that's Durk that's Parish that's
kg that's Willis that's Moses Malone
LeBron like when we Kareem whose
longevity was the best we had seen
before LeBron his last excellent year
was year 17 at age 38 LeBron is age 39
year 21 Carl Malone his last great year
was year 16 age 37 Kobe's was year 17
age 34 MJ's last game with the bulls was
year 13 age 35 so doing this at age 39
year year 21 seemed impossible so the
idea that he wouldn't still be a really
good player at 42 in year 24 like I I
just don't think he'll ever be bad
here's the here's the challenge for that
and it's why there have been a couple
guys that that weren't obviously in
football Tom Brady Jim Brown retired
early but the challenge for that is if
you're not bad like a lot of guys will
keep playing until they're bad you know
what I mean and I don't know that LeBron
would do that but that is the th that is
why you see so few guys retire I mean
Jordan to be honest wasn't bad he never
was bad but he kept he obviously retired
multiple times but yeah I I just think
it's it's an interesting point I think
five years is probably that's too I I
think that's too much he'd be what
44 uh but I I don't see I don't know if
he'll if he's still playing well like
averaging 20
that's what is he going to retire so
that's what I wanted to so while just on
a bad te in five years he's going to
average no I'm just saying I'm not think
that well that's that's kind of my point
like the because I would argue this
obviously he is not not only is he not
Peak LeBron no matter what the numbers
show you he's not close to Peak LeBron
for a lot of reasons most notably Peak
LeBron I believe was the best defensive
player in the league and now and he's
you know telling JJ like I got to pick
my spots now on that side of the ball
things but I don't think he he is
deteriorating year by year I think he is
better this year than last year yeah I
think that LeBron because he's healthy
this year is and he's shooting better is
better this year than last year by the
the advaned stats and I understand like
the raw counting stats everything's
inflated and all of this stuff I get
that part of it but amongst his peers
this season of that are playing right
now he's sixth in the league in PR he's
seventh in box plus minus he's sixth in
value over replacement player like those
catch all stats so his deterioration has
been so slow that he's gone from clearly
the best in the league to clearly in the
discussion to okay not the best or
second best or third best but in the
discussion for somewhere from 4 to 10 so
how much fur you know what I mean like
how much worse does he have to get each
year to where you get to the point of
like ah he's you know what I mean it's
Willie Mays in the Outfield it'll never
happen for this guy it'll never
happen that's I mean we'll see it
depends on when he retires you know but
I think with LeBron we just look at his
winning you know like the numbers are
nice the numbers like you said people
are putting up more inflated numbers in
this year's NBA but for him it's about
winning if he's putting up these numbers
and not winning that's the thing with
him he probably wouldn't want to play in
that situation and that's why he might
retire but now usually with guys you can
still put up numbers but you get injury
he even said that in the podcast with JJ
it's that can I have to pick my spots
you know and so that's the thing like he
can do it but can he stay healthy like
for 60 games in a year to do it so
another day another record for LeBron
chances LeBron wins another title I mean
if he stays with the Lakers for the rest
of his career I'd say quite slim cuz I
don't trust the front office I don't
trust the coaching I don't trust the
drafting like I just don't I mean even
up to this year you be like ah they
don't have a lot of draft picks because
Anthony Davis trade this year at pick 17
they took jayen Hood chafino the three
picks after him are all all helping
teams in the playoff mix right now cam
Whitmore pods for the Warriors and the
best player hakz for the heat all guys
that are you know what I mean as as and
so right after the prior to that the
biggest pick that they had you before
they traded all those guys away it was
they took Lonzo over Tatum and fox which
by the way I supported at the time time
to be fair but it's not but okay I mean
it was I don't think the Celtics would
have done it I think that the Celtics
would have taken Tatum at one so there's
that piece of it but I don't I mean he
just had the first ever 40-point game on
that few shots and free throw attempts
in NBA history he right now this season
Brew is in the fourth quarter You could
argue we can show it to you the best
player in the league in the fourth
quarter so can is he is he good enough
to still be a top two guy on a champion
unequivocally yes are the Lakers cuz I
think the Lakers Brew are going to go
after that third star approach which I
don't think is the right approach in
today's NBA I think that the talent
pulls too deep I think the approach they
had when they want a title in La is the
right approach LeBron ad and a good
Supporting Cast and so I think he's I
think he can I think with the Lakers it
be very very difficult yeah I don't
think he will now the third I agree with
you on the third star approach
unless and this is the one way I think
that he could win another championship
and this won't happen because this team
is really playing well if they somehow
were able to get Kyrie Irving and you
talking about ad LeBron and Kyrie Kyrie
knows how to play with LeBron he'll
defer to LeBron respects LeBron like
that would be I think they'd be able to
win a championship but that's not going
to happen obviously Dallas is happy with
Kyrie otherwise I don't I don't see them
winning it and this is where it's a bit
baffling to me and maybe it's because
we've been spoiled by LeBron's career as
you see the numbers are very good we
know he's not quite what he used to be
because particularly defensively and
when he was in his prime he would
control the tempo of games and that's
what he can't do now because he doesn't
have the ball all the time and he
doesn't want it all the time because of
the stamina but I I gota be honest I I
think their team is good like the roster
I mean you got two legitimate stars that
whose games compliment each other Austin
Reeves uh D'Angelo Russell ruy I mean we
Tori and Prince we could go down the
line I think they've got depth they
shoot the three well they don't shoot it
a lot but they're in the top 10 they're
I think seventh in three-point field
goal percentage so it's a bit baffling
that with LeBron putting up these
numbers ad putting up these numbers and
playing great defense and the players
that they have the role players that
they're not better is it so I don't is
it that b it's not that baffling to me
cuz I think it just speaks to the depth
of talent in the league right now you're
right that on paper the roster doesn't
look terrible but when you I watch the
games though the I think these guys can
play yeah but when you stack it up
against the teams they're competing with
in the west I mean Denver's roster is
that much better yeah yes after yo
really kcp playing a huge role Aaron
Gordon who is good but nobody thought he
was all that spectacular before he's a
third guy so I think but Denver also has
the benefit of having the best player in
the league or certainly one of they
found a way to really play great team
basketball so take Denver out of it
because joic in for a lot of people's
kind of a cheat code right now like
LeBron maybe a decade ago you look look
at the Thunders overall roster far
better Minnesota's overall far better
yeah I mean seriously hold on we're
talking about after their top two guys
right cuz that's everybody agrees LeBron
and they I mean the top two guys are a
part of it no of of course I mean you
can't just say after top two cuz and
even after the top two yes Jaden
Williams and and and and Chad who's
young in his first year that I mean ched
is I get number two Josh giddy Josh
giddy uh Austin Reeves yeah I think
giddy's better and I think and I
think and Chad is definitely better as
an all-around player than DLo like and
then well Chad would be the second best
right Jay so you second best player on
OKC versus ad ORS LeBron right and then
Giddy and then Dort you go down I just
look at the I look at the rest of the I
how you can say OKC's roster is better
overall now they might have better
coaching this is what if people want to
start looking at the coaching than they
do with Darin I think Darin's a CO good
coach but I and look let's face let's be
honest the Lakers have played good
basketball for now for a few months yes
and we'll see what they do in the
playoffs so this may all you know show
out but I think the roster is good I
really do do you have a winning in title
no no you're no so and you think he
needs to leave yeah I mean that's what
you AG right you think he should leave
this I me I don't think he will leave I
think that and I'm not saying he should
I'm saying if if the question were the
if the only thing that mattered was best
chance to win a title as a major
contributor you know what I mean so
remove I'll go sign with the nuggets for
the minimum you know that doesn't exist
uh then I would say yes leave I the and
you know in my perfect world Philly
would be the Philly would work I also
told you I thought you know the fantasy
camp of he and Steph teaming up in
Charlotte was pretty neutral territory
Steph gets to go to his hometown LeBron
get LeBron gets to get a trump Jordan be
like he owned the team for 20 years they
won one playoff game oh I'll go I'll go
bring you to the finals that'd be fun
too guess who's back or almost back it's
Joel embiid reports are that the
reigning MVP could be back for
tomorrow's game against the thunder in
Philly he's been out since late January
with a knee injury brw how dangerous is
Philly if Joel returns dangerous uh look
there'll be three questions and maybe
they'd work through these in the seven
games he may play at the end of the
regular season what is there a minutes
restriction how's his stamina and then
thirdly what is Joel gonna be as great
in the playoffs as he's been in the
regular season he was playing better
than joic even in the when he got hurt I
mean they were 26 and8 with him that's
like a 62 win Pace I believe and so they
were playing great basketball but we
look at his numbers regular season
versus playoffs rebounds is fine but
scoring field goal percentage three
point go way down and I would I I tend
to think it may be because he's always
banged up in the playoffs even if he
plays there'll be a g game or two here
or there that he has to sit out or he
plays but he's only 80% and that's where
this year could really help now if he
comes out this year and looks good in
these last few regular season games and
then in the playoffs his numbers drop
off like that then you know okay there's
it maybe it's not quite James Harden but
there's something like that going on but
I think look outside of Boston now they
if they the eighth seed then they
probably face Boston I don't see them
beating Boston but outside of Boston and
this team because they play So Hard
Miami you're believe I think they have a
shot you don't think they'd have a shot
against Miami no I think no I think
they'd have a shot against Miami but I'm
saying that'd be a tough one for him to
win because of the way Miami's played
just the grit Boston I think would beat
him after that I'm not saying I'd pick
him over my Milwaukee but I give him a
good shot against Milwaukee and anybody
else obviously last three series for
embiid he's played uh 13 games but he's
missed four games missed the first two
in Miami then