NBA icon LeBron James appeared stunned as Russell Westbrook hijacked a Los Angeles Lakers team meeting to convey very different messages.
The Lakers suffered a poor start to the 2022/23 NBA season but the purple-and-gold have appeared to turn a corner in recent weeks. Los Angeles are the most in-form team in the league with James leading the way as he enjoys a historic 20th campaign in the league.
On Saturday night, James scored 37 points while he added seven assists and eight rebounds as the Lakers secured an important 136-134 win over the Sacramento Kings. It is the Lakers’ fifth straight win and has re-invigorated the franchise as they eye teams ahead of them in the Western Conference.
The win over the Kings pushed the Lakers slightly closer to entering play-in consideration even if they remain in 12th place with an 18-21 record - a remarkable turn of events given Los Angeles’ faltering season suffered a crushing blow when Anthony Davis picked up an injury last month. The Lakers have ridden the hot hand of James in the meantime while role players like Thomas Bryant and Dennis Schroder have stepped up.
However, the team has been riddled with tension since the poor collapse of the previous campaign and it appeared to be encapsulated in an interaction between Lakers head coach Darwin Ham, James and Westbrook.
In a clip filmed before a game, Ham urges his team to dial in and ‘get greedy’. James is clearly in the zone and agrees, repeating: “Let’s get real greedy. Let’s get real greedy, man.”
Westbrook then interrupts James to add a more laid-back approach to the meeting, adding: “Just keep having fun, bro. Be happy for the next man.
“Keep having fun bro. Win, lose or draw have fun.”
Despite his team’s plight, James is enjoying a stellar season. The four-time MVP is excelling despite his tender 38 years of age, averaging 27.2 points per game while he is also putting up 8.2 rebounds and 6.7 assists.
While the Lakers sit 12th in the Western Conference, they have one less win than the Kings and reigning champion. James and the improving Lakers will look to continue their impressive form when they face the Denver Nuggets on Monday night.
