Sunday night saw LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers take on the Los Angeles Clippers for the first time with James Harden in their lineup. The Lakers managed to come out on top 106-103 in an epic clash, and after the game, James was asked what he made of the new-look Clippers.
“They look great,” LeBron said. “You said it’s the James Harden Clippers? Nah. It’s the T-Lue Clippers. I know T-Lue very well. It don’t take T-Lue long to make sure s*** get right. Took 5 games and they’ve been cooking since.”
Reporter: “What did you make of the new James Harden look Clippers?”
LeBron James: “They look great… You said James Harden Clippers? Nah, it’s the T-Lue Clippers.”
(via @TomerAzarly) pic.twitter.com/6oUEO88gYl
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 8, 2024
While Lue made some questionable decisions in this game, he has done a fabulous job, in general, this season. Integrating a piece like Harden is not easy, and he has got the team firing on all cylinders now.
Despite this loss to the Lakers, they remain fourth in the Western Conference with a 22-13 record. Considering the Clippers started 0-5 with Harden in the lineup to fall to 3-7 on the season after 10 games, this is quite the turnaround.
LeBron James Once Called Tyronn Lue The Best Coach In The NBA
James and Lue certainly formed quite a bond during their time together with the Cleveland Cavaliers, where they led the franchise to a championship in 2016. Even with them now representing rival teams, they have been very complimentary of each other, with LeBron once saying that Lue is the best coach in the NBA.
James has played under some very good coaches like Erik Spoelstra and Mike Brown, but Lue is the only one whom he speaks so glowingly of. It was even reported that James wanted him to be the Lakers’ head coach in 2019, but negotiations fell through, and the franchise ultimately hired Frank Vogel. While Vogel did lead L.A. to the title in 2020, you do wonder just how successful they’d have been had they signed Lue.
LeBron James Had An Interesting Response When Asked About Darvin Ham
While LeBron, who is averaging 25.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game this season, was singing Lue’s praises here, he didn’t have a whole lot to say about his current head coach, Darvin Ham. When asked what Ham has done to help get through their recent ups and downs, James kept it surprisingly short.
“By just staying and trying to keep us prepared when it’s time to go out for battle,” LeBron said.
Lakers’ LeBron James on how Darvin Ham has handled the recent ups and downs pic.twitter.com/FSx9ceBHce
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) January 8, 2024
The contrast when speaking about Lue and Ham was quite stark there. With how much pressure Ham has been under in recent weeks, you’d have thought LeBron would have spoken at length about his efforts to get the team back on track, but he didn’t do it.
It has led to some believing that the comments on Lue were a bit of a shot at Ham as well, especially the part about how it doesn’t take Lue too long to figure things out. When you consider Ham is still trying to find the right formula this deep into the season, it’s easy to see how it can be viewed as James throwing some shade at him.
What gives it more credence, is NBA insider Shams Charania’s report on discontent brewing between Ham and Lakers players. The big reason for this was the constant chopping and changing with regard to the rotations and the lineup, which led to a lack of cohesion within the group.
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