LeBron James is more than just one of the most physically gifted athletes of all time. He is also one of the most cerebral.
After a crucial 3-pointer from Dennis Schröder, and despite a costly foul by Anthony Davis, LeBron’s Lakers defeated the shorthanded Timberwolves during an overtime match in the play-in tournament.
As a reward for the stressful victory, Los Angeles will join all three of the other California teams and officially advance to the postseason in the Western Conference.
Waiting for them in the playoffs are the Memphis Grizzlies, who finished the season as the No. 2 seed in the West. LeBron, who clearly has a great mind for the game, was asked his thoughts about the upcoming opponent.
I asked LeBron for his early thoughts on the Memphis matchup. After listing out his scouting report for most of their rotation, he deadpanned, “Obviously, I haven’t thought about Memphis one minute.” pic.twitter.com/PeUJ4sXJYs
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) April 12, 2023
Here is what he told The Athletic’s Jovan Buha:
“Really good team. Very well-coached. Very well-balanced. Obviously, the head of the snake is Ja Morant. But another All-Star in Jaren Jackson who is up there as one of the Defensive Player of the Year [candidates], he’s been able to block shots and offensively he’s very dynamic as well. Tyus Jones, the point guard off the bench, has led the league in assist-to-turnover ratio, like, the last six years. So he complements them very well. Desmond Bane, I think in his second or third year, but he plays like a veteran. His ability to shoot the ball from the 3-point line, also his ability to attack in early transition. Dillon Brooks … you can’t disrespect him because he makes shots. Xavier Tillman has been playing good basketball. Obviously, he’s been well-coached all the way from [his] college days with Coach Izzo to now. They got Luke Kennard who broke my scoring record in high school. He passed me in high school. There is a reason why. He is a laser from the 3-point line. His ability to shoot the ball is uncanny. They’ve got some other guys off the bench that you just can’t disrespect because they will make you pay.”‘
After rattling off that incredibly detailed scouting report on the entire roster from top to bottom, LeBron proceeded to mention that he obviously hasn’t thought for even “one minute” about Memphis.
I’m not sure if LeBron watched Mad Men, but this was an utterly fantastic Don Draper impression from the NBA’s all-time scoring leader.
For what it is worth: In this meme metaphor, if LeBron is Draper, then Dillon Brooks is definitely Michael Ginsberg. Brooks foolishly asked to play against LeBron in the postseason, but he should be careful about what he wishes for.
