Playing with LeBron James ‘a present and a curse,’ former teammate says

LeBron James has 4 NBA championships, is the NBA’s all-time main scorer and is broadly thought-about one of many best gamers in league historical past. 

In his twentieth NBA season, James has proven few indicators of slowing down, averaging 29.5 factors, 8.4 rebounds, and 6.9 assists in 47 video games. 

LeBron James, #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers, handles the ball in the course of the recreation towards the Golden State Warriors on Feb. 23, 2023 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles. (Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE by way of Getty Images)

NBA gamers all look as much as James, however enjoying with the 19-time All-Star isn’t any stroll within the park. 

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Every season, James expects to contend for a championship, with the strain on his teammates mounting when dropping happens. 

J.R. Smith, who performed alongside James with the Cleveland Cavaliers for 4 seasons, mentioned what it was like enjoying alongside the all-time nice on the “Game Theory with Bomani Jones.” 

“Honestly, it’s a present and a curse with enjoying with Bron,” Smith mentioned. “I like Bron to demise and I cherished enjoying on his staff as a result of, for me, I really feel I thrived extra below the strain. But lots of guys don’t prefer it as a result of it could actually go one in all two methods. 

“It’s both, what did you not do to assist him win? And, who else didn’t assist to not assist him win?” 

LeBron James, #23, and JR Smith, #5 of the Cleveland Cavaliers, react as time expries in regulation towards the Golden State Warriors in Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on May 31, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Smith received the 2016 NBA championship with James in Cleveland, changing into the primary staff to come back again from a 3–1 deficit within the NBA Finals. 

However, Smith can be remembered for his psychological mistake within the 2018 finals, when he ran out the clock in Game 1 towards the Golden State Warriors with the rating tied 107-107. 

Cleveland went on to lose Game 1 in additional time, even with James placing forth a Herculean effort, scoring 51 factors because the Warriors swept the Cavs within the sequence. 

The supporting solid round James is at all times scrutinized, with James continuously trying to enhance the roster. 

LeBron James, #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers, reacts towards the Dallas Mavericks for a rebound within the first half at American Airlines Center on Feb. 26, 2023 in Dallas. (Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)

With the Los Angeles Lakers within the 2022-23 season, James made it clear earlier than the NBA’s commerce deadline that upgrading the roster in a push to make the playoffs was paramount. 

The Lakers did, buying and selling away Russell Westbrook and including Jarred Vanderbilt, DeAngelo Russell, Malik Beasley and Mo Bamba. 

However, LA continues to be battling for a playoff spot as they await James’ return from a proper foot damage. 

As is at all times the case on a staff led by James, the highlight will likely be on the Lakers – and his teammates – as they make their push for the postseason.