The Los Angeles Lakers were in action on Wednesday, as they took on the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Chesapeake Energy Arena. LeBron James talked to the media after the game, and unsurprisingly, the four-time NBA champ was asked to comment on the blockbuster trade that sent James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets.
As it turns out, however, LeBron didn’t have too much to say about the deal that is expected to alter the landscape of the league significantly:
“Trades happened today and I couldn’t allow myself to indulge in that knowing that we had a game that we had to play tonight.”
LeBron James remained locked in on the Lakers’ mission after the James Harden trade. 😤
(via @RyanWardLA)pic.twitter.com/vnmHS0mmdE
— LakeShow (@LakeShowCP) January 14, 2021
As he expressed in his statement, James wasn’t allowing anything to distract him from the task at hand. True enough, LeBron led the Lakers to another win, racking up a game-high 26 points on 9-of-20 shooting to go along with five triples, six boards, and seven assists in just 27 minutes of action.
Montrezl Harrell had one of his best games in a Lakers uniform against the Thunder, finishing with 21 points (on 8-of-12 from the floor), six rebounds and a block in 25 minutes off the bench.
Despite LeBron’s contained reaction, there’s no denying that the James Harden deal is something that will be lingering on his mind for the foreseeable future. By bringing Harden to Brooklyn, the Nets have just formed one of the most fearsome Big 3’s in NBA history in Kevin Durant, Harden, and Kyrie Irving (whenever he decides to play again).
Needless to say, the Nets are going to mount a serious challenge to the Lakers’ title defense this season.
