Lakers star and NBA legend LeBron James once again joined Mike Golic Jr. and Mike Golic Sr. on Monday’s edition of GoJo and Golic to talk about the state of the Lakers as well as their postseason prospects, how he continues to play at such a high level after so many years in the league and family, including playing with his son Bronny and his younger son Bryce committing to Arizona and NOT Ohio State.
LeBron on the state of the Lakers
LeBron and the Lakers currently sit at 20-16, good for sixth place in the West. GoJo notes that the Lakers have really been playing better over the last month or so, especially offensively. Does LeBron think the Lakers have found their identity with the trade deadline about a month away?
LeBron thinks so, and says he thinks defensively they want to bring physicality and make teams do things they don’t want or like to do while offensively they want to share the basketball. He says the Lakers are really good when they’re in the high 20s in assists while limiting turnovers. If the Lakers can do that, he says, they’re a pretty good team.
He says the Lakers have let some games get past them, but they’ve also been able to come back in some games that might have looked like they were slipping away. He says they have so much more room to improve and they’re not yet the team he thinks they’re going to be in February and March. LeBron likes the Lakers’ chances and they just have to put the work in because that’s what matters.
Senior wonders about the importance of playoff positioning, especially when considering the impact that the push to avoid the Play-In Tournament could have on the health of the roster. LeBron says Senior is absolutely right and that when it comes to the postseason, if you’re not going in with a healthy roster, you’re not giving yourself the best chance to win. LeBron says the Lakers want to continue to win games, especially in the “Wild, Wild West” where he says there are so many strong teams accumulating victories. But at the same time, he says if you’re winning but are going into the postseason with a roster that’s not healthy, you’re not giving yourself a chance to win BIG. He says it’s definitely a fine line, and he hopes the Lakers can both win games and remain healthy.
LeBron on performing at a high level at age 40
GoJo points out that LeBron is still out here posterizing folks at age 40, playing at a level we’ve never seen before from someone his age. How has he been able to do it?
LeBron says he’s just been trying to keep his mind fresh and young, part of which he attributes to his three kids, who he says have definitely kept him young. Having the opportunity to work with Bronny, as well as watch his 17th-year-old son Bryce and his 10-year-old daughter, who is a volleyball player, has brought so much life to his household, even as Bronny begins a household of his own. Additionally, he credits some of it to the joy he gets from playing the game he loves. He understands it won’t go on that much longer, but he’s trying to appreciate all the moments he has while he still has them.
LeBron on playing with Bronny
When LeBron joined GoJo and Golic before the season, he talked a bit about what it was going to be like playing with his son Bronny. They got to have that really cool moment in the opener where they shared the floor and GoJo wonders what the experience has been like compared to what LeBron thought it would be.
LeBron says it’s been everything and more. He says he couldn’t even imagine the opportunity to be able to be there with Bronny on a day-to-day basis — through practices, film sessions, road trips. Every moment that Bronny’s around it is still surreal for LeBron. LeBron says when he goes into the locker room and Bronny comes in he just looks over and is reminded it’s all real. LeBron says it’s been so rewarding to show Bronny the landscape, show him what it means to be a professional and to get an inside look as Bronny works and grows as a player. It’s all very fulfilling, LeBron says.
GoJo has to know, before letting LeBron go, what Bronny has been calling his dad on the floor. The guys joked about it in LeBron’s previous appearance on the show, so we have to know how things have played out. LeBron says Bronny has not let a dad slip on the court or in the locker room. He says Bronny has been calling him Bron and 2-3, so they’ve been good so far. But off the court? It’s still dad.
LeBron on Bryce choosing Arizona over Ohio State
Bronny’s not LeBron’s only basketball-playing son, however. His younger son Bryce recently committed to Arizona, spurning LeBron’s favorite collegiate team, THE Ohio State Buckeyes.
So Senior wonders: How difficult was it for LeBron to watch his son spurn the Buckeyes? Will LeBron go out and get some U of A gear? After chuckling a bit, LeBron says it’s always difficult and challenging because everyone believes their kids will follow the path they imagined, but like his older brother, Bryce chose where he felt he would fit best. LeBron says Arizona recruited Bryce hard, believed in him and believed in his maturation process and where he is going as a basketball player as well as a young man. Bryce made his own decision, as LeBron says as parents, he and his wife Savannah just support Bryce and are excited for his next chapter.
Tune into GoJo and Golic weekday mornings from 8-10 a.m. ET on DraftKings Network! See more about how to watch DraftKings Network here. Also, subscribe to the GoJo and Golic YouTube page and hit the notification bell to never miss a video!
Watch GoJo and Golic LIVE every weekday from 8 to 10 a.m. ET. The show is also available via audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also follow Mike Golic Sr. on X at @golic and Mike Golic Jr. on X at @mikegolicjr and the show on X at @GoJoandGolic and Instagram at @GojoandGolic.
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