LeBron James has been watching the 2021-22 NBA Playoffs from home as a spectator after his Los Angeles Lakers had a historic regular-season collapse to miss the post-season altogether and end the season as the 11th seed. This was the worst regular-season record in LeBron’s 19-year career, so it can’t feel good to marinate in that until October.
However, James is also just a massive basketball fan and has often supported other players to do well throughout their careers. He was one of the earliest well-wishers of Steph Curry and was trying to sign Luka Doncic for his brand when Doncic came into the league. James has been watching a lot of basketball and has his finger on the pulse of the game.
A fan asked him in a Q/A session on Twitter for his pick for the best player left in the playoffs. James responded with 5 names, representing each team in the playoffs, with the Warriors getting two picks.
A lot of great players still playing. Steph, Luka, Jimmy, Tatum, Klay, etc etc! These boys are hooping this post season!
— LeBron James (@KingJames) May 17, 2022
LeBron has a post-season history with four of these players, that too in high leverage moments. James beat a rookie Tatum in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2018 in what was a coming-out party for the Boston Celtics forward. He has been a force to be reckoned with this post-season.
LBJ beat Jimmy Butler in the 2020 Finals to win his fourth championship. Butler is running it back with the Heat and will have to overcome Tatum in the Eastern Conference Finals. Steph and Klay’s history with LeBron is well-known, with the four consecutive Finals matchups from 2015 to 2018.
Luka is the only one LeBron hasn’t had an on-court rivalry with, but LeBron also said Luka is his favorite player in the NBA right now. A lot of love flows from the King, but which one of these players will actually end the year with a championship ring on their finger? We will find out soon.
