While LeBron James was closing in on being the first player in NBA history to score 40,000 points, D’Angelo Russell, a teammate for the Los Angeles Lakers, thought back on the significant influence he has had on his generation, particularly during his career.
“To be honest, he’s the first person I saw play in the NBA,” Russell told reporters on February 29, following James’ 31 points, which helped them defeat the Washington Wizards 134-131 in overtime.
Russell revealed that when he was a little boy, his father took him to see his first NBA game, which was between the Indiana Pacers and LeBron James’s Cleveland Cavaliers.
After leading the Pacers to an overtime victory with 22 points, Russell said, “We’re from Kentucky so [the Pacers] was our pro team.” “I remember crying as a fan at the game and watching LeBron do that dunk that he always did on the commercials and all that,” the ardent LeBron supporter said.
He envisioned his destiny in that moment of inexplicable ecstasy that came from getting a close-up look at his hardcourt idol.
“I remember crying hard when I saw him do it, and I realized that this is where I wanted to be.” Thus, without even realizing it, he has inspired me,” Russell remarked.
“He’s still motivating the younger generation, his teammates.” However, because of the way he sets the example for us both on and off the court, the young as a whole kind of looks up to a guy like him. Since he is a real role model, nothing he does surprises me. I don’t think anything he does in the future will surprise me, and he’s only limited by what he’s accomplished for this game.
One-two-three Greatness
James was back at it barely 24 hours after leading the Lakers to a dramatic 21-point comeback victory over the Clippers in the fourth quarter.
The 39-year-old James left his mark on the overtime victory over the inexperienced Wizards club, who played with a winning mentality.
The momentum entirely turned back to the Lakers with an acrobatic chase-down block of Jordan Poole and his following game-tying 3-pointer in overtime with 3:12 remaining. His final act of genius was a dish to Anthony Davis, who finished with 40 points and 15 rebounds, for the game-winning basket.
Russell, who is ten years younger than James, finds plays like that to be routine because he plays with him every night.
Russell remarked, “I forget that [he’s already 39] the way he plays and his energy.” He certainly has a slight decline in his vertical leap from when he initially entered the league to now, but he is still leaping over others and performing other athletic feats. Thus, I’m not surprised in the least.
Lakers All-Star Can Continue to Play Into His Fortys
Russell thinks James can continue to play excellent basketball far into his 40s without showing any signs of slowing down.
“I believe he still has several years under his belt and is capable. It is said in Year 21. Saying [Year] 25, that is. I’m not shocked that you glance up,” Russell remarked.
For the upcoming season, James has a $51.4 million player option.
James discussed his future while making his All-Star appearance, a record 20.
“I haven’t calculated the number of seasons I have left.” I am aware that there aren’t many,” James remarked on February 18. “I am a Laker, and I hope it stays that way. I have enjoyed being a Laker for the past six years. I’m not sure what uniform I’ll be wearing or how long it will last. Ideally, it will involve the Lakers. It’s an amazing organization full of amazing people. We’ll see. It’s coming, but I have no idea how it will end.