LeBron James Missed This the Most During Quarantine
LeBron James was just like all of us during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. He had to quarantine and could not do what he loves most or even be around some of his loved one. However, now that James is no longer stuck at home and he and the Los Angeles Lakers are preparing for the season to resume in the Orlando bubble, he revealed what he missed the most while quarantined.
LeBron James was having a great season with the Los Angeles Lakers
After going to eight straight NBA Finals, and four straight with the Cleveland Cavaliers, James went to the Lakers in the summer of 2018.
While James played well in 2018-19, averaging 27.4 points per game, 8.5 rebounds, and 8.3 assists, he only played in 55 games, the fewest of his entire career. The Lakers struggled too as they went 37-45, and James missed the playoffs for the first time since 2004-05.
This season, though, the Lakers added Anthony Davis. They were dominating before the NBA suspended its season due to COVID-19 too. James was averaging 25.7 points per game, 7.9 rebounds, and a league-leading 10.6 assists. This was while Davis was averaging 26.7 points per game and 9.4 rebounds, and the Lakers had a 49-14 record, the best in the Western Conference and the second-best in the entire NBA.
The league then ultimately shut down on March 11, right after the Lakers had two of their biggest wins of the season. They defeated the Milwaukee Bucks, who have the No. 1 record in the Eastern Conference, and then the Los Angeles Clippers (the No. 2 team in the Western Conference) in back-to-back games.
LeBron James revealed what he missed the most during quarantine
Like all of us, James did not get to see some of his loved ones during quarantine. When recently asked about it, James revealed what he missed the most during that time.
“My mother,” James said, according to The Washington Post’s Ben Golliver. “It’s the first time in my life that I went that long without seeing my mom. I hadn’t seen my mom since All-Star weekend and then I saw her three weeks before we had to report to our respective cities.”
James went on to say that that was extreme for him.
“Obviously, you guys know my story, coming from a single-parent household, being the only child,” James said. “My mother was 16 when she had me and for me to be away from her for that long. She was like, ‘I’m not leaving Akron, I’m not getting on the plane’ … She kept me sane because she said, ‘In due time we’ll join back again.’”
The Lakers have a great shot at winning an NBA Championship
The Lakers now head into the restart with the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. They will probably be in that spot after the seeding games too as they sit in front of the Los Angeles Clippers by five-and-a-half games.
With their spot in the conference, and with the talent that they have, the Lakers have a great shot at reaching the NBA Finals and even winning a championship. In addition to Davis and James, the Lakers also have Kyle Kuzma, who is averaging 12.5 points per game, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who is averaging 9.5 points per game.
The team also added J.R. Smith, who played a big part in James winning the 2016 NBA Finals with the Cleveland Cavaliers. They also added Dion Waiters, who averaged 14 points per game between 2016-17 and 2018-19.
Standing in their way, though, will be the reigning NBA Finals MVP, Kawhi Leonard, and the Los Angeles Clippers. In addition to Leonard, the Clippers also have Paul George and two other guys averaging over 18 points per game in Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell.
Additionally, the Milwaukee Bucks are the other team that could give the Lakers trouble. The Bucks are led by reigning league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, in addition to Khris Middleton, and they have the best record in the entire league.
It won’t be an easy road for the Lakers. However, LeBron James and Anthony Davis give them an excellent chance to win a championship in the NBA bubble.
Stats courtesy of Basketball Reference
