Category: Sports News

It's one of the most exciting things to watch yet one of the most excruciating places to be in college basketball: the NCAA tournament bubble.

Even though Selection Sunday is more than 50 days away, there are teams already approaching desperation mode, in need of impressing the selection committee — or it could make for an uncomfortable ride in March.

It's already time to start looking at resumes and figuring what teams need to ensure their spot in the Big Dance. Welcome to the bubble watch, where we'll examine teams on the fence in the recent USA TODAY Sports Bracketology:

UCLA

• Record: 13-6 (3-2)
• NET Ranking: 40
• Quad 1 record: 2-5
• Projected seed: No. 11 (first four).
• Quality wins: vs. Purdue
• Bad losses: vs. California (neutral)

It's been a largely disappointing season for the Bruins, unable to live up to the preseason expectations by not playing up to marquee opponents. The new year got off to a tough start with three losses in five games, pushing UCLA further away from NCAA tournament certainty. It tremendously helped its case by beating Purdue for that first signature win of the season. The schedule gets lighter now with Northwestern next, and it doesn't leave the West Coast again until the middle of February. A winning streak is a must.

New Mexico

• Record: 15-4 (6-2)
• NET Ranking: 41
• Quad 1 record: 1-3
• Projected seed: No. 11 (first four)
• Quality wins: at Virginia Commonwealth
• Bad losses: at New Mexico State, at Boise State

Eric Olen's first season in Albuquerque had a bumpy start with a 3-2 record, but the Lobos have righted the ship with a 12-2 record since. However, this current stretch doesn't have any real significant wins, and the loss to Boise State inflicted some real damage. There was the chance against San Diego State but New Mexico couldn't pull of the late road comeback. The next week includes Quad 2 games at Nevada and UNLV, which it can't afford to drop.

Ohio State

• Record: 13-5 (5-3)
• NET Ranking: 35
• Quad 1 record: 1-4
• Projected seed: No. 11 (first four)
• Quality wins: vs. UCLA
• Bad losses: at Pittsburgh, at Washington

You never know what team you're going to get with Ohio State, who crumbled against Washington but then looked solid against UCLA right after. While it doesn't have any major win, the Buckeyes benefit from having a strong NET ranking, thanks to some close games against top-tier squads. The chance to really make a statement is now with trips to Michigan and Wisconsin coming up, as the loss to Pittsburgh looms large.

TCU

• Record: 12-7 (2-4)
• NET Ranking: 46
• Quad 1 record: 2-4
• Projected seed: No. 11 (first four)
• Quality wins: vs. Florida (netural), vs. Wisconsin (neutral)
• Bad losses: vs. New Orleans, vs. Notre Dame, at Utah

The season-opening loss to New Orleans immediately made it a tough road for TCU, and it hasn't gotten any easier despite some real good wins against Florida and Wisconsin in November. The shocking loss to Kansas started a four-game losing streak that was punctuated with a head-scratching defeat to Utah. It's getting harder for the Horned Frogs with Baylor and Houston next, needing at least one win to avoid tumbling.

Creighton

• Record: 12-8 (6-3)
• NET Ranking: 59
• Quad 1 record: 1-5
• Projected seed: First four out
• Quality wins: at Villanova
• Bad losses: vs. Kansas State, at Providence

Starting 5-5 with a Quad 3 loss wasn't ideal for Creighton, but it could have been redeemed with a strong start to Big East play. Unfortunately, it hasn't gone that way. The Bluejays haven't taken advantage, picking up just a win against Villanova that finally got them a Quad 1 win, only for it to be wiped out with a loss to Providence. Creighton just avoided disaster by barely getting past Xavier, and it needs to get a win streak going, starting with an easy opportunity against Marquette.

Baylor

• Record: 11-7 (1-5)
• NET Ranking: 53
• Quad 1 record: 1-6
• Projected seed: First four out.
• Quality wins: at Oklahoma State
• Bad losses: at Memphis

Baylor has yet to catch up with the rest of the Big 12, finding itself in another odd position. Even though it lost to Memphis, it finished nonconference play 10-2. It's gone bad since with a 1-5 conference start, and while they've all been Quad 1 games, that won't cut it for any tournament candidate, especially a NET ranking so high. Simply put, Baylor needs to get out of the Big 12 basement, starting with TCU and Cincinnati up next.

Texas

• Record: 11-8 (2-4)
• NET Ranking: 43
• Quad 1 record: 3-5
• Projected seed: First four out
• Quality wins: at Alabama, vs. Vanderbilt
• Bad losses: vs. Arizona State (neutral), vs. Mississippi State

Sean Miller had a largely unimpressive start in Austin and it's been an up-and-down start to the SEC schedule. Texas started 0-2 with a bad Quad 3 overtime loss to Mississippi State, but then got some marquee wins in Alabama and Vanderbilt, handing the Commodores their first loss of the season. The Longhorns have slid again with back-to-back losses, now owning an 0-3 Quad 2 and 3 record. That can be forgiven if Texas can pick up wins against Georgia and Auburn to even out the Quad 1 record.

Indiana

• Record: 12-7 (3-5) 
• NET Ranking: 37
• Quad 1 record: 0-6
• Projected seed: First four out
• Quality wins: none
• Bad losses: vs. Minnesota

The lack of quality wins says it all for Indiana, with the Hoosiers still looking for a notable victory to prove it belongs in the field. They swung and missed at every opportunity in the nonconference schedule and in the early part of the Big Ten slate, currently on a four-game losing skid that included three top-10 teams. The Hoosiers need to get a Quad 1 win soon, and it will have three chances in the next four games.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NCAA tournament bubble watch: Teams on outside looking in March Madness

As the NBA All-Star Game approaches, the race for Most Valuable Player is clearing up.

Early injuries have impacted the race, and Denver Nuggets do-it-all center Nikola Jokić is the latest player to fall victim. Jokić has missed the last 12 games, which has momentarily pushed him out of consideration. When he’s on the floor, he has as good an argument as anyone, but it’s hard to justify his position in the Top 5, given his current absence.

The Nuggets, however, have been encouraged with the progress he has made, so that could change very quickly.

Here's the latest iteration of the USA TODAY Sports NBA MVP rankings:

USA TODAY Sports NBA MVP rankings

All stats entering play Thursday, Jan. 22

5. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

He has expressed his frustrations and an eventual separation from the Bucks may be forthcoming, but Antetokounmpo remains a force when he’s on the floor. Even though his usage and numbers have dropped over Milwaukee’s last four games — he’s averaging just 12 shots per game over that span — he’s still averaging 28.2 points, 9.9 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game.

4. Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons

The last week has seen Cunningham rely far more on his ability to distribute, and he keeps leading the Pistons to victories. Cunningham dished out 14 assists in a one-point win over the No. 2 seed Celtics and has totaled 43 dimes over the last four games. The Pistons trail only the defending-champion Thunder in victories with 32 and have built a solid 5½-game lead on Boston in the East.

3. Luka Dončić, Los Angeles Lakers

The defense continues to be a significant issue, but Dončić is still the NBA’s leading scorer. He’s a three-level scorer and carries Los Angeles’ offense as the Lakers have remained competitive in a stacked Western Conference. A 38-13-10 triple-double in a massive victory against the Nuggets, who were without Nikola Jokić, showed his impact on any given night.

2. Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics

He’s having a career year, averaging personal bests in points (29.8) and assists (4.8) while unexpectedly leading the Celtics to the No. 2 seed in the East. Brown is also putting in excellent effort on the defensive end, using his length to frustrate the opposition. If Jayson Tatum ever does make it back this season, Brown’s usage figures to dip. But even then, he’s proving he’s capable as a No. 1.

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

It’s, once again, the consistency Gilgeous-Alexander plays with that separates him from the pack. SGA is second in the NBA in scoring (32.0 points per game) and is on the verge of breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s record of consecutive games with at least 20 points. His defense is stellar and he never seems to be flustered. And, because he’s typically available, he may end up running away with his second consecutive MVP.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA MVP rankings with Nikola Jokic still out: Who leads?

The NBA trade deadline is fewer than two weeks away, and teams are assessing the market, potentially working up viable offers.

It has been a fairly quiet leadup, with the lone trade so far being the one that sent Trae Young to the Wizards and CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert to the Hawks.

Still, there are plenty of stars and big names who may be available in deals, if the price is right. None is bigger than Giannis Antetokounmpo, though a lot has to happen for him to not only become available, but also for the Bucks to find an offer that works and move him.

In any case, here’s a look at possible landing spots for the biggest NBA trade targets:

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Things appear to be deteriorating by the day in Milwaukee, with Antetokounmpo clearly frustrated. But even if he does ask out — and he would need to do so soon — he’s a generational player that Milwaukee wouldn’t move for just any offer. The Bucks, who are lacking draft capital, would need to ensure that they’re getting appropriate value for the two-time MVP.

Most likely landing spot: Stays in Milwaukee

This comes with a massive caveat: if Antetokounmpo is eventually moved, a deal in the offseason would be far easier to execute. But if the relationship really sours, and Antetokounmpo does ask out, the Heat, Warriors and Lakers are viable spots, though — frankly — just about every team will be lining up for his services.

Anthony Davis

According to ESPN, Davis wants to be moved to a team that is in position to contend. Davis, 32, may not be an ideal fit in Dallas’ timeline, so it could look to move the veteran big who has struggled to stay on the floor for the Mavericks. In fact, his hand injury appears to be significantly impacting his trade market.

Most likely landing spot: Warriors

Golden State will be looking to maximize the window to win with Stephen Curry, and Jimmy Butler’s injury doesn’t help. The Warriors have Jonathan Kuminga to offer, and they have desperately needed a center for years.

Other options include the Hornets, Pistons, Bulls, Hawks, Raptors and Kings.

Ja Morant

His recent return to form after he sat with a right calf contusion is helping his trade value, and Memphis may be looking to rebuild, with rumors also swirling about the future of Jaren Jackson Jr. Morant, despite his injury history and off-court issues, is still only 26 and explosive. His shooting has taken a massive step back, but he can inject athleticism into the right offense.

Most likely landing spot: Bucks

Milwaukee could try one last-ditch attempt to sway Antetokounmpo, and Morant is an athletic player who thrives in the pick-and-roll.

Other options include the Timberwolves, Kings, Raptors and Clippers.

Michael Porter Jr.

This appears to be a case of a team that loves draft capital wanting to leverage value for more picks. Porter is having a career year and his offense could help teams that struggle to score.

Most likely landing spot: Pistons

Detroit is No. 1 in the East and the temptation may be to not shake things up, but the Pistons, who rank 25th in offensive rating (110.3) in January, need some more shooting and offensive production.

Other spots include the Mavericks, Bucks, Grizzlies and Wizards.

Jonathan Kuminga

The Warriors simply haven’t found a way to seamlessly incorporate Kuminga into the lineup. And now with Jimmy Butler hurt, Golden State may be looking to aggressively ramp up its efforts to trade Kuminga.

Most likely landing spot: Mavericks

Other spots include the Lakers and Bucks.

Domantas Sabonis

He has dealt with injuries and has seen his scoring and assist numbers drop significantly. Sabonis does best when he’s the anchor of an offense, distributing the ball from the top of the key and engaged in pick-and-rolls with a capable point guard.

Most likely landing spot: Raptors

Other spots include the Clippers, Celtics and Pistons.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA trade deadline predictions, landing spots for top targets

No matter where your college allegiances lie, it’s worth remembering that Mother Nature is always undefeated. As we look at this weekend’s Starting Five, therefore, we remind everyone that logistics might hamper the schedule in some locales, particularly in the eastern half of the country.

We think, however, that the items offered here for your Saturday viewing enjoyment will go on as scheduled. But of course fans should check on game day through official channels. And, above all, if you’re traveling, please be safe.

With all that out of the way, here’s the Starting Five for a potentially snowy January 24.

No. 24 North Carolina at No. 15 Virginia

Time/TV: Noon ET, ESPN2

This one was moved up a couple hours in hopes of getting it in ahead of the storm. The action on the court should be hot enough for all, however, as the Cavaliers are riding a five-game winning streak, while the Tar Heels got in a needed get-right game against Notre Dame following a rough west-coast trip. The inside-out combo of Thijs De Ridder and Malik Thomas have been carrying the scoring load for UVa. The Tar Heels do most of their damage in the paint via Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar, but they’ll need a few treys to drop as well.

Villanova at No. 3 Connecticut

Time/TV: 12:30 p.m. ET, Fox

They’re accustomed to winter weather in the northeast, and this one is early enough that it should tip off on time. It’s an important contest for both parties, as there are fewer opportunities for high-end wins in the Big East this year. Bryce Lindsay leads a deep Wildcats’ backcourt that will have to be ready for UConn’s relentless ball pressure. The Huskies haven’t exhibited the wire-to-wire dominance of their recent championship runs, but having center Tarris Reed healthy again has been a major boost at both ends of the floor.

No. 11 Illinois at No. 4 Purdue

Time/TV: 3 p.m. ET, Fox

The Boilermakers return home after splitting on their trip to Los Angeles. They don’t get much of a break, however, as the Fighting Illini bring an eight-game winning streak into Mackey Arena. Purdue floor general Braden Smith is coming off a bad shooting night at UCLA, but he’s still handing out over nine assists a game. Illinois will be without guard Kylan Boswell (hand) for a couple more weeks, but the Illini were able to compensate for his absence in their most recent outing against Maryland.

No. 6 Houston at No. 12 Texas Tech

Time/TV: 6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

The game of the day might once again involve the Red Raiders, who staged a late rally a week ago to overtake Brigham Young. They now hope to turn the tables on the Cougars, who handed them their lone league loss to date in Houston back on Jan. 6. Since that four-point squeaker against the Red Raiders, Houston dismissed its last three opponents in blowout fashion. Tech’s dynamic duo of J.T. Toppin and Christian Anderson have been getting some timely help from LeJuan Watts of late. They’ll all have their hands full with the Cougars’ three-headed monster on the perimeter of Emanuel Sharp, Kingston Flemings and Milos Uzan.

Tennessee at No. 17 Alabama

Time/TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

In addition to being a key SEC contest for both squads, there’s a curiosity factor for this contest with the Crimson Tide at the epicenter of the sport’s latest eligibility litigation. If Charles Bediako does play, it will likely be for a limited number of minutes backing up Aiden Sherrell, though he would give the Tide another option in the interior defense, which has unquestionably been an Achilles heel for this group. All of this of course is of little concern for the Volunteers, who have struggled to make shots when needed. Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Nate Ament remain the primary options, but both have seen their shooting percentages dip in conference play.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: College basketball schedule features five huge games this weekend

We’re back! Welcome to the five highest-IQ plays of the week! 

Sure, we love the high-flying dunks and the deep, off-the-dribble step-back threes, but this is a place for the under-the-radar plays that might not get the credit they deserve. The plays that get the basketball sickos and nerds out of their chairs. The plays that even YOU could make in your weekly rec league game. 

Each week, the plays will be ranked from five to one—one being the smartest—and will only be taken from games that occurred within the past week. For this week, games from January 15th to January 21st are considered. The C’s went 3-1 this week, with wins over the Heat, Hawks and Pacers but a tough loss to the Pistons.

5. Catch high, keep high

Baylor Scheierman is just the latest NBA player to start taking some three-point shots without a dip in his release. You’ll hear lots of “shooting coaches” and “basketball trainers” talk about getting the ball into your shooting pocket in order to get as much power as you can, especially if you’re a young player who hasn’t reached full physical development. But the cold, hard truth is that NBA defenders are sometimes too big and athletic to spend all that time setting up your shot. Instead of finding a shooting pocket, Scheierman just catches it high, keeps it high, and knocks down the shot—he probably gets the ball out of his hands in half the time he would have if he listened to your local basketball trainer. 

4. 3-man game

This beautiful offensive spacing is made possible by Payton Pritchard’s heady relocation and quick thinking. Players are taught to relocate—or find a spot on the three-point line—after they drive to the lane and kick out to shooters. But they’re often taught to do so on the weak side of the floor. Here, Pritchard’s decision to relocate right back to where he drove from seems odd at first, but then utterly genius after you realize that there are three Celtics players on that side of the floor as opposed to two Pistons. And since each of those three Boston players can make threes, they’re an impossible cover for only two defenders. Big time IQ, Pritch.

3. Two places at once

Okay, so I know I literally just said that it’s impossible to defend on one side of the floor when you’re a defender down, but I guess that doesn’t apply if your name is Jordan Walsh? On this play, Walsh closes out to Walker and simultaneously jumps to contest his three (which Walker quickly thinks better of) while forcing him to improve his passing angle to Sheppard in the corner. That gives Jordan Walsh—and probably only Jordan Walsh and like 15 other NBA players—enough time to get back and block the shot. He’s literally in two places at once.

2. Watching your defender’s eyes

When you’re a player like Jordan Walsh, the defense isn’t losing sleep over you on the offensive end. Your main offensive responsibilities as a role player include (but are not limited to) shooting and making open threes, cutting to the basket, and offensive rebounding. But what do smart cutters actually do to get open? Well, one thing they do is pay attention to their defender’s eyes, which is exactly what Jordan does here. He’s looking right at Norman Powell and knows that once Hauser drives baseline, Powell’s eyes will be on the ball. So as soon as Norm stares at the ball, Walsh cuts backdoor for an easy two. The timing is perfect.

1. Creative Spain action

I’ve talked at length about the Celtics’ use of Spain action (ball screener gets a back screen from a third player), but this is a really interesting way for Boston to get into the action. Instead of simply running down the floor and starting in the typical alignment (pick and roll with a third defender starting in the paint), the Celtics instead set up in a zoom alignment before Brown slips the play and gets himself into position to set a screen for Queta. This totally throws off Miami and is quite frankly a brilliant wrinkle for the C’s to get into their most common and effective offensive action. Special stuff, Joe and staff.

Good morning, it’s Friday, January 23rd. The Cleveland Cavaliers are 25-20 and play the Sacramento Kings tonight at home.

This is Cleveland’s first game against the Kings this season. Surprisingly, the Cavs went 0-2 against Sacramento last year, making them one of the only teams to sweep the Cavs last season. The Kings are currently 14th in the Western Conference with a 12-33 record.

Today’s Game of the Day

• Houston Rockets at Detroit Pistons – 7 PM, Prime Video, AT&T SportsNet Southwest

The Detroit Pistons have taken a 5.5 game lead over the rest of the Eastern Conference, sitting at 32-10 behind a breakout season. They’ve gone 17-4 at home this season and have won eight of their last 10 games.

Meanwhile, Houston is fourth in the Western Conference and is only half a game outside of seventh place. Every game matters in the West — and the Rockets will need to pick up a difficult win on the road to stay above water. They recently beat the San Antonio Spurs 111-106 behind 21 points from Reed Sheppard in a comeback victory.

The Rest of the NBA Slate

• Sacramento Kings at Cleveland Cavaliers – 7:30 PM
• Boston Celtics at Brooklyn Nets – 7:30 PM
• Phoenix Suns at Atlanta Hawks – 7:30 PM
• New Orleans Pelicans at Memphis Grizzlies – 8 PM
• Indiana Pacers at Oklahoma City Thunder – 8 PM
• Denver Nuggets at Milwaukee Bucks – 9:30 PM
• Toronto Raptors at Portland Trail Blazers – 10 PM

The Nets just lost to the Knicks 120-66, in case you’re interested in watching how they respond to playing one of the worst games in modern NBA history.

Cavs links of the day

• Cavs vs Hornets Player Grades – Fear the Sword
• Cavs Trade Deadline options are slim – Akron Beacon Journal

NBA links

• LaMelo Ball just made the ugliest kind of NBA history – Yahoo Sports
• NBA Rookie Rankings – The Ringer

Nigeria's hopes of Olympic basketball success could receive a boost, with Orlando Magic's Desmond Bane saying he wants to "make something happen" and recruit fellow NBA stars to D'Tigers' cause.

Bane is officially listed as American by the NBA but has Nigerian heritage and is yet to represent any nation on the international stage.

Having qualified for their first Olympics at London 2012, Nigeria's basketball team went on to also compete at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, but missed out on the 2024 Games in Paris.

"I would for sure," said the shooting guard when asked about the possibility of answering the call if it came.

"We just need to get all the Nigerians together for the Olympics coming up in the next couple years and make something happen."

Houston Rockets guard Josh Okogie, who was born in Lagos but raised in the USA, is already a Nigeria international, but Bane says he has had conversations with other players about joining up.

"I'd talk to Aaron Nesmith (Indiana Pacers)," the 27-year-old told BBC Sport. "Me and Gabe Vincent (Los Angeles Lakers) also talked about it a little bit. We need to do it."

Forwards Precious Achiuwa and Adem Bona of the Sacramento Kings and Philadelphia 76ers respectively are also Nigerian-listed NBA players.

Currently ranked 50th in governing body Fiba's world rankings, Nigeria have dropped to 7th among African nations.

And D'Tigers are far from certain to reach the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Their first chance could come through the 2027 Fiba World Cup in Qatar, where they would have to finish as the highest-ranked of the five African nations who will compete.

But they will have to qualify first, and currently sit third in their first round group behind Guinea and Tunisia.

There will also be a separate African Olympic qualification competition featuring six nations, with the winner booking a spot in LA.

Bane has just finished taking part in this year's NBA Global Games, with Orlando beating the Memphis Grizzlies in Berlin before losing the return fixture in London.

Speaking in Germany, NBA commissioner Adam Silver again talked up the possibility of a new European continental league, to add to the Basketball Africa League which has been running since 2021 and is also backed by the NBA.

Bane is impressed by the growing global impact and talent pool.

"I think it's great. You hear about NBA Europe and talking about Nigeria, there's so many talented players everywhere."

Buss family drama is not new to the Lakers or their fanbase. From the moment team governor Jeanie removed her brother, Jim, from his front office role, the Lakers have, at times, resembled a soap opera more than a basketball team.

However, that has often existed in a vacuum, existing alongside the on-court Lakers and rarely overlapping. That is until Wednesday when, in Baxter Holmes of ESPN’s piece on Jeanie and the Buss family, LeBron James was pulled into the mix.

The story described a seemingly deteriorating relationship between Jeanie and LeBron since the 2020 title. The culmination of sorts came when Jeanie reportedly considered trading LeBron in 2022.

In the aftermath of the story, Jeanie released a statement pushing back on the idea that she has not appreciated LeBron while also, more hilariously, saying not to drag him into the family’s drama.

On Friday, LeBron spoke to the media for the first time after the team’s loss to the Clippers. To say he was unbothered would be an understatement.

In a lengthy response, LeBron spoke about not caring about stories and reports and discussed his motivations for coming to the organization, which was also a topic in Holmes’ piece.

“At the end of the day,” LeBron said, “when I came to this organization, my whole mindset was about restoring excellence and the things I seen growing up with the Lakers. Obviously, I didn’t get an opportunity to watch Showtime, but I know the history. Then, in the early 2000s with Shaq and Kob’ and then what Kob’ did those couple runs with him and Pau, my whole mindset was ‘How can I get that feeling back to the Lakers organization.’

“When the Lakers and Knicks and Bulls and Celtics are good, it’s great. And I was able to do that along with 14, 16 other guys, winning a championship, bringing a championship. That’s always been my mind. Quite frankly, I don’t really care about articles. I don’t care about stories. I don’t care about podcasts and all that type of shit. It don’t bother me…If you know me personally, then you know what I’m about.”

LeBron James on his relationship with Jeanie pic.twitter.com/nrf91revHZ

— Melissa Rohlin (@melissarohlin) January 23, 2026

He was also asked about his relationship with Jeanie directly and where he felt it stood in light of the reports.

“I thought it was good,” LeBron said. “But somebody can see it another way. There’s always two sides of the coin. At the end of the day, how I represented this franchise and what I wanted to do to represent this franchise when I got here until now is with the utmost respect and dignity and I would say loyalty.”

That’s not really a great statement, but it was also one delivered in a way that didn’t feel like a shot at Jeanie. Granted, that’s me reading into things and LeBron could have meant it some other kind of way. However, the whole tone of his interview was more dismissive of the whole story than passive-aggressive.

LeBron was pushed one more time after that response about his relationship with Jeanie and, specifically, if the two had been in contact since the story’s release.

“We never talk,” LeBron said. “It’s like me and Jeanie be on the phone talking. You guys ain’t ever heard a report about that. Don’t make something out of it that it’s not. It’s always been mutual, it’s always been respect, it’s always been a great partnership but it’s not like I call Jeanie on the phone. It’s not like I called [Heat owner] Micky Arison or [Cavaliers owner] Dan Gilbert on the phone.

“Come on guys. Don’t make this more than what it is. I don’t care.”

To my point above, this all felt like LeBron wanting to downplay the whole situation. Considering he easily could have made a much bigger deal about this if he wished, it does feel notable that he chose this path instead.

All that being said, it also likely wasn’t completely nothing to LeBron. It certainly adds another layer to LeBron’s impending free agency and whether this further signals the end of LeBron’s time in LA.

Because the Lakers can’t just be a normal franchise.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.