Lakers All-Star LeBron James spoke about his feelings on returning to the NBA amidst the coronavirus pandemic with his former Cavaliers teammates Richard Jefferson and Channing Frye – plus Lakers studio host Allie Clifton – for their Road Trippin’ Podcast (h/t to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin).
James feels uncomfortable about potentially playing games without fans. “So to get back on the floor, I would love it,” he said. “Let’s just go to each other’s practice facility, put out a camera, just scrimmage and livestream it. … I just don’t know how we can imagine a sporting event without fans. It’s just, it’s a weird dynamic.”
On the podcast, James also advocates for the NBA playing a handful of regular season games before the playoffs, assuming the 2019/20 season can resume at all. “One thing you can’t just do is go straight to the playoffs… Because it discredits the 60-plus games that guys had fighting for that position.”
Here are a few more items related to the coronavirus pandemic and the NBA’s hiatus:
- After the COVID-19 pandemic forced the NBA to postpone its season, All-Star Hawks point guard Trae Young returned from Atlanta to his offseason home near his family in Norman, Oklahoma, according to Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated.
- Warriors All-Star point guard Stephen Curry has been a solid voice of reason amidst the coronavirus chaos, as Ann Killion of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Curry hosted an informative 30-minute Q&A on his Instagram with Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
- Nets wing Garrett Temple has opted to use the NBA’s indefinite postponement to study for the LSATs, as he told the YES Network’s Michael Grady (h/t to New York Post’s Brian Lewis). “I’m going to be honest, I’ve been sleeping a good amount, but also trying to take on a new task,” Temple said. “I’ve actually started practicing for the LSAT prep.”
I wish LeBron and everyone else complaining/saying the don’t want to play in front of empty arenas would back off… Like yeah I know it’s not ideal but believe me giving the fans something to watch as opposed to no sports at all would be awesome for any and all sports fans. So claiming they don’t want to do it because they “play for the fans” and doing so without them in attendance is just a ridiculous point of view. I think ALL sports fans would LOVE to watch ANY NBA games — and if empty arenas makes that happen then everyone should be all for it so that there’s something to watch (sports wise) for all those sports fans out there sorely missing live sports!
Lebron’s first sentence in the article: “So to get back on the floor, I would love it.”
Maybe read the article to make sure your post isn’t, at best, outdated? You’re going by the last news cycle, which just featured an impulsive reaction anyway. Everyone has changed their minds at least once on some event since then.
It’ll never happen, please stop and remove your shoulder balloon from your sphincter.
Thank you to Steph, he asked thought out and intelligent questions and hopefully brought a new awareness to the pandemic that wouldn’t have reached an audience that doesn’t watch the news or seek out knowledge.
Its night and day how Curry/James are handling this.
Curry is a true leader and champion, asking thoughtful questions when no on is, meanwhile Bron is busy showing off his PED body in IG thirst trap videos and telling everyone to buy from his pizza company. What a fraud James is. I have zero respect for him, he’s the ultimate coward who gets a pass for literally everything he does. He’s not even a 1-team player, Curry owns him forever as long as he stays in GSW.
totally agree with you. he is also watching his own highlights to draw attention to himself
What the heck is the LSATs
Test to be a lawyer
Riveting story about Trae Young
/s
Haha right!
lebron wants to be the commissioner, too?
Throughout this, Curry is proving he is the guy the NBA should be 100% focussed on and shoving down everyone’s throats, not the completely selfish Lebron.
I agree. Last year, the lakers weren’t so good, he stopped playing and used an injury for an excuse. Not this season, though. He got the players he wanted. When he left Cleveland for Miami, he had to make sure Bosh was on board. Same when he came back to Cleveland, with Love.
i agree. he’s the kinda guy that, if he and his team aren’t winning, he kinda backs out on them without specifically stating it. he tried to blame it on the young guys too
Strike Four, all I need to remember, as I’m sure you remember, is Lebron quitting in that celtics playoff series back when Mike Brown was coaching. His message to owner Gilbert that Brown, and no one else, needed to go. Gilbert fired brown believing that getting rid of Brown would motivate Lebron to stay.
That’s when Lebron had his decision show on tv.
That’s all I need to remember. It’s all about him and his rep which based on the above is garbage.
Thing is, he knows that curry, and others, have what he doesn’t. Character. I know other posters will defend him and that’s ok. But I remember.