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LeBron James largely dismissed any discussions about being the league’s marquee player.
Following his impressive performance of 33 points and 17 rebounds, which propelled the Los Angeles Lakers to a 111-102 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena, the four-time NBA champion addressed the dynamics between players and the media covering them.
“Why would anyone want to be considered the face of the league when many of those who discuss our game daily disparage everyone involved? That expectation feels quite odd,” the 40-year-old forward remarked during the post-game press conference on Thursday.
“I’ve always taken my role seriously and recognized from the start the importance of professionalism and being a role model. I strive to uphold that with utmost respect and dignity,” he continued, adding, “There’s a strange vibe surrounding this topic.”
Even Luka Doncic’s father was taken aback by his son’s buzzer-beater!
UNREAL 🪄pic.twitter.com/KTRAzm6BNz
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) February 28, 2025
“He probably thought, ‘he finally knocked one down,’” Doncic shared, reflecting on his father’s reaction to his remarkable three-pointer, which was his only successful attempt from long range out of nine tries. In helping the Lakers improve to 36-21 in the 2024-25 regular season, the Slovenian star recorded a double-double with 21 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists over nearly 36 minutes of play. Meanwhile, Ukrainian Alex Len remained on the bench, and German Maxi Kleber (recovering from right foot surgery) was listed as injured.
“It’s a significant challenge for me to regain my rhythm and convert those easier shots,” Doncic said regarding his struggles with shooting, “I’m eager to get back to that level.”
The starting center for the Timberwolves, Rudy Gobert from France (experiencing low back spasms), was unable to participate. Dutch player Jesse Edwards was dressed for the game but did not see any action. In contrast, Bosnian Luka Garza played for five minutes, contributing one point, one block, one steal, one assist, and one rebound.
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