You know, it's not, but what will... how will you remember, uh, covering this era of LeBron Br- being in LA, and, uh, what, what, what, what are your lasting impressions of it?

Well, I mean, I, I know that...

I, I know looking back what it was like before LeBron came here, and it was, it was not happy moments, not making the playoffs, you know.

Um, and so I appreciated what he brought to the franchise.

Um, you know, a winning attitude.

Um, you know, won, uh, a championship in the Bubble.

Um, attracted, you know, other major players like, you know, um, Anthony Davis and, and even, even Luka, uh, and, and LeBron playing together.

Like, how, how quickly do you think they can get this thing figured out? Is 53 million bucks enough? Are there trades out there? Do you suspect they're ready to get this thing rolling immediately, or is this more of a longer term view that might take a, a, you know, over a se- uh, one, one single off-season?

I don't know if he's coming back and if he wants to play

still.

It's the number one question on the grocery store line, on the golf course, everywhere.

And I think...

I want him to come back.

Because I think LeBron has set a new standard that you can play longer if you take care of your body and do the right things.

And he's proven that he's still one of the best in the league.

So that's kind of what I walked away with.

When you look at the Lakers and Luka, do you see things that may need to drop in around him like the Knicks did with Brunson that would kind of fit perfectly as the Lakers try to sort of crack this code and get that title?

You know, when I look at what they have, obviously Luka and Austin Reeves work well together.

And, you know, the big question, obviously, is going to be LeBron.

But looking outside of that, Rui really fit in well with this team.

You know, he shot the ball well from three.

When he had his moments, it was with Rui, I mean, with Luka or whether it was Reeves.

So I think they need to continue to add, you know, consistent shooters.

Uh, what, what do you do with LeBron?

And in your mind as a basketball analyst and being who you are, what was the first thing that came to your mind when you watched that comeback?

The collapse.

The victory was amazing for the New York fans.

And I'm not taking anything away from that comeback and how poised they were and how they were able to really take advantage of what San Antonio was not doing.

And so for a basketball player to see, you know, it's okay to have a 29-point lead narrowed down to 15, but to see a complete collapse of nervousness and shock value and not being able to do the things that they can do, I saw it when they were up 15.

It came from like 25 to 15 points.

And I said at that point, I said, they're in trouble because they're playing the lead.

What is it on a team, James, when you have maybe that go-to guy that you just trust implicitly? How much does that sort of change your mentality, your belief that you can come back when you have someone like Brunson that can put up 14 points from the floor in a quarter? I think it's the Kobe

It says Mamba mentality.

Just think if Kobe was still alive.

Wenby is picking everybody's brain, right? But just imagine if Kobe was still alive.

I know he watched Kobe going up.

And to be able to pick Kobe's brain.

And I think...

He does possess that mentality.

What are the missing ingredients with the Lakers to be here at this stage over the next couple years?

Well, I think number one, uh, they have to keep enough players together over a period of time so that they're building chemistry and, uh, building good habits.

And I think they were on their way to doing that.

Uh, the last couple of years, obviously, uh, bringing in Luka, uh, the emergence of Austin Reaves and guys like, uh, uh, Rui Hachimura.

Um, but I think that what's missing is, you know, uh, a big.

Uh, Ayton is, is a, is a f- you know, he's a, he's a big that, that has some skills, but I don't think the skills that can, you know, quantify what we need from a center.

We need a, a, a rugged center that can rebound and that can accommodate what, what Luka and LeBron and, and Austin and those guys are doing, so.

My question with the Lakers is, and this is my concern with them, if they're gonna pay Austin Reaves whatever it is that he's gonna get paid, can they fill all those other gaps in the roster that are gonna be needed, as you said, finding all those wings, finding that big man? I worry in today's day and age that it's gonna be really hard to fill those defensive gaps for the Lakers around a core with Luka and Reaves getting as paid as much as they would be.

What are the missing ingredients with the Lakers to be here at this stage over the next couple years?

Well, I think number one, uh, they have to keep enough players together over a period of time so that they're building chemistry and, uh, building good habits.

And I think they were on their way to doing that, uh, the last couple of years.

Obviously, uh, bringing in Luka, uh, the emergence of Austin Reaves, and guys like, uh, uh, Rui Hachimura.

Um, but I think that what's missing is, you know, uh, a big.

Uh, Ayton is, is a, is a f- you know, he's a, he's a big that, that has some skills, but I don't think the skills that can, you know, quantify what we need from a center.

We need a, a, a rugged center that can rebound and that can accommodate what, what Luka and LeBron and, and Austin and those guys are doing.

My question with the Lakers is, and this is my concern with them, if they're gonna pay Austin Reaves whatever it is that he's gonna get paid, can they fill all those other gaps in the roster that are gonna be needed, as you said, finding all those wings, finding that big man? I worry in today's day and age that it's gonna be really hard to fill those defensive gaps for the Lakers around a core with Luka and Reaves getting as paid as much as they would be.

How are we supposed to feel about the future for OKC and all the good things that they have going?

Well, I tell you, winning the championship is amazing, but for me, You know, the standard, especially if you're as good as, say, like Denver was when Jokic won.

And you're like Oklahoma with all the talk around how deep they are on their bench.

And, you know, for me.

The standard is winning back-to-back.

When you're that good, when you have all that kind of predictions about your team, and then when you get stung, you know, by Wendy and the Spurs, it sets you back a little bit.

So, you know, I like Chet Holmgren.

in that series, but was there that feeling? Like, I'm wondering if the Knicks have that feeling like, man, I don't know if, if this opportunity is going to present itself again.

Shouldn't there be less complaining in this series, and more like, you know, getting after people's asses?

Look, referees are gonna miss some calls.

They are.

But what you want is consistency on both ends.

And, you know, when I see, you know, like a ghost handling, you know what I'm saying, you know, or I see a ball obviously goes off a chest, foot, or, you know, grabbing, you know, my hair or things like that, I want it, I want it to be a, a little bit more consistent on both ends.

Like I, I see physicality with, with, with, uh, with Oklahoma that I really, I didn't really see, you know, for, for Vassell, or Castle, or Cassell, those guys.

So I do think they have a, a legitimate gripe, uh, on, on, on, on, especially in a seven-game series, where the referees should be really consistent on both ends.

'Cause I don't know if, you know, we don't, we don't see Wembanyama skip out on media sessions a lot, man, and he seemed like he was in a real bad mood after that game last night.

Englewood has changed James you watched that Western Conference game one I think everybody did or watched the highlights because it was just so darn compelling with the MVP thing and then Wemby performing the way he did against that OKC team that we just saw sweep the Lakers what were your impressions and how good do you think this is going to be well

I tell you you might want to reschedule that MVP ceremony, man, with the guy sitting right there on the bench watching all that, taking all that in.

And then, secondly, he hates Chet Holmgren.

They don't get him.

They go way back.

So he was fired up.

People have to remember, during the regular season, without some Oklahoma players, Tony was able to defeat them.

How are the Lakers going to try to compete with this? Like when you got the money they have, when you have Doncic, and it feels like they're going to bring back Austin Reeves, like what – What is the best way to build? Is it depth? Is it finding that third star? What do you think makes the most sense for them to do? What is the plan for this offseason to try to contend with either of these teams, San Antonio and Oklahoma City?

Figure out, hey, what was the 15-2 run they had right before Luka and Austin Reeves went down? And are they even close to what looks to be a juggernaut, an emerging one in the Spurs? And do we have to completely retool? How hard is it to try to project how that should look if they bring these guys

back? They're most difficult decisions.

When you look at teams that are stacked with you know, athletes and, you know, guys with wingspans and play multiple positions and put pressure on you on both ends.

That's what the Lakers, I think, you know, ran into a little bit with Minnesota last year.

Oklahoma definitely possesses that.

But then when you look at San Antonio, you look at Detroit, that seems to be the, you know, the model.

So I think the Lakers are, you know, they have, players to get the job done.

I don't know if you consume basketball the way the average fan does once the Lakers are out of it, James, but do you find yourself rooting for the team that's busting their ass playing defense like OKC or for what looks to be the face of the NBA and Wenbin Yaman getting him to the NBA Finals? did you have any friends on those Knicks teams that could never get over the hump against the Celtics back in the 80s, you know, Bernard King or Bill Cartwright or something like that, that you'd like to see the Knicks maybe get their first championship in over 50 years? Do you care who ends up holding up that Larry O'Brien trophy when it's all over?

So what would your solution be for the Lakers approach next season?

I think they definitely need to make some changes.

I don't think you could run it back, uh, with the same, uh, you know, Western Conference teams that are gonna get stronger.

Minnesota's gonna get stronger.

Uh, I think one of the things that, uh, that was lacking was in the, uh, center position.

Um, I think Ayton is a, is a, is a, is a great player.

I don't know if, um, consistently, uh, what we need, uh, or what any team needs is a, uh, a Harden sign like Oklahoma.

When you go to the Lakers and you have to accept a role, I mean, you could have played for, you know, throw out a team and probably average 27, 28 a game if you wanted to, but you have to kinda convince yourself, or how do you convince yourself, "I might be the third option on this team, but I'm on a great team," as opposed to being a star and the number one guy elsewhere?

Um, when did you know this season was gonna be shaky for the Lakers, or they might not have championship aspirations?

aspirations?I think, um, you know, right before the All-Star game, uh, be- before the All-Star break, um, you know, I had doubt, uh, because the chemistry, um, you know, hadn't arrived yet.

Um, you know, everybody has injuries.

I won't really say that was a, a major part, but, uh, you know, uh, having Luka, uh, come in, he had a half a season last year.

Uh, they didn't really develop, uh, the cohesiveness that they, that, that they needed.

But after All-Star break, okay, they made a surge, and I think they found their identity.

Uh, JJ had enrolled them into defense first, uh, but when you look at, uh, the makeup of the team, I, you know, I, I didn't see championship quality, you know, uh, ever.

Okay, but moving forward, let's say next season, do you just kind of run it back with the same guys that you're gonna have to, you know, spend money on LeBron, spend money on Austin Reaves? Do you bring back Ayton? Luka hopefully will be healthy, so what would your solution be for the Lakers approach next season?

But is there a comparable team that you've ever seen to this Oklahoma City team in terms of their depth and what they throw at you? I mean, they've got all kinds of weirdos throwing at the Lakers last night.

Yeah, thank you, Paul George, man.

That draft for Shea and all those draft picks, they're going to be set for a long time.

I haven't seen, I mean, the Golden State Warriors, you know, they had some guys coming off the bench who were decent when they were winning, but I cannot remember a team that has been so productive.

with their role player.

That's why they're so good.

They're without Jen Williams last night, a big part of their team.

It just seems like that bench is not giving them what they need to give them.

But is there a comparable team that you've ever seen to this Oklahoma City team in terms of their depth and what they throw at you? I mean, they've got all kinds of weirdos throwing at the Lakers last night.

Yeah, thank you, Paul George, man.

That draft for Shea and all those draft picks, they're going to be set for a long time.

I haven't seen, I mean, the Golden State Warriors, you know, they had some guys coming off the bench who were decent when they were winning, but I cannot remember a team that has been so productive.

with their role player.

That's why they're so good.

They're without Jaden Williams last night, a big part of their team.

It just seems like that bench is not giving them what they need to give them.

Is it as simple as cleaning that up? Were there some issues in that game that you didn't like what you saw defensive issues or rebound issues, anything beyond just being careless and giving the Rockets a bunch of points off turnovers?

Yeah, regardless of, you know, you're shooting well a good percentage.

When you turn the ball over, especially against Houston, because they're known for being a team that makes you turn over, and then they capitalize, you know, the Lakers concede a lot of points to those turnovers.

So it demoralizes your defense.

It's shots that you don't get up, particularly for guys like Aiden and Rui, who, you know, when you turn the ball over, those are shots that somebody usually gets.

So that and the one thing, the other thing that worries me a lot is offensive rebounds.

They go hand in hand.

last year uh how much do you start looking ahead and trying to crack that code

What is it that you've seen come alive here in the postseason for Marcus Smart? And there were, like you said, glimpses of it in the regular season, but my God, this is such a different level that he's playing at.

Yeah, no disrespect to Memphis or Washington, but when you're a championship caliber player and you go to a setting that's not you know, conducive to what you're used to.

And I just don't think – I know he had some injuries as well that he had to overcome.

But when he gets to a situation where he's, you know, the coaches fit his personality and they're utilizing him properly and giving him the go-ahead to inject – whatever defensive, you know, philosophy he wants to put on the team.

He's diving on floors.

I mean, that first play against Kevin Durant, when he, you know, he ripped him at half court and dove on the floor.

I mean, those are the type of things that set the tone for the team.

How much of this, James, do you credit to J.J.? I mean, defensively, it seems like he's not let Shingun or Kevin Durant breathe out there.

So how different is it when it's a guy that was doing it all season long and it was working out, but it's not working in the game? Does that change anything? Or are you in that moment just telling him and Con Canipple, keep shooting, dude.

No, no.

And, you know, that's the difference between, I don't know, today's game and, you know, the game of the past.

You know, a coach wouldn't allow that, first of all.

But I don't know how much, you know, to me, I don't know how much power a coach has over telling a guy not to shoot.

And so we find other ways to score or find someone else to score or get an easier shot, get to the free throw line.

or something like that, but if you're missing that many threes.

Do you want LeBron to be score-first mode, or do you want him to be distributor mode?

Could you see him carrying this team for the next couple of weeks?

He's going to have to.

He didn't have any choice.

And, you know, the plan was... with Luka and Austin, he had really settled into playing off-ball, going in the post, abusing people, really getting physical.

He's finding a whole new game where he could be just as impactful, get triple-doubles.

Now, I think maybe handling the ball a little bit more is going to put a little bit more wear and tear on him, and he's going to have to make a lot of decisions with the ball in his hands.

I hope that the Lakers can find somebody.

They're 10 deep.

Could you see him carrying this team for the next couple of weeks?

Well, he's gonna have to.

He didn't have any choice.

And, you know, the plan was with Luka and Austin, he had really settled into, like, playing off ball, you know, going in the post, like abusing people, uh, really getting physical.

He's finding a whole new game where he could be just as impactful, get triple doubles.

Now, I think maybe handling the ball a little bit more is gonna put a little bit more wear and tear on him, and he's gonna have to make a lot of decisions with the ball in his hands.

I hope that the Lakers can find somebody.

Yeah.

So what does that all mean? What did James Worthy have to say?

Yeah, my Tar Heels are not in the Final Four.

But you know what? Neither is

Yeah, that John Shire, he had a pretty funny look on his face when that shot went in.

Yeah, you know, I definitely didn't want Duke to win.

But like I told you last week, man, I hate to see a kid, you know, make a play like that that kind of he thinks cost him the game.

But there were 19 points up.

Shouldn't have never got to that.

Do you know as a player that, hey, we're playing really good basketball, but we're not making up any ground because all these other teams are playing great too?

Yeah, yeah.

Regardless of how well you're playing or what you've achieved, There are other teams that are achieving, too.

I mean, look at what Boston's doing in the East, as you just mentioned, the teams in the West.

So all the things you can really focus on is, you know, hey, we're playing really good.

We've come a long way.

Our defense is now a priority, and we're healthy.

What do you make of the job that J.J. Redick's doing? How good of a coach is he? How good of a coach is he in context with some of the other great Laker coaches that got off to quick starts in their careers?

Just the transformation of his body, what you think that might have to do with this run he's on where he's averaging over 40 per game here this month and just how different he is, you think, this year with the Lakers versus what he was last year.

And sometimes it takes, you know, I think he made that transformation like it 25, 26 years old after something happening that, you know, he probably never thought would happen, which is to get traded.

You know, as he was, you know, continuing to go through a maturation process, just growing up, he comes to L.A., he sees LeBron working out.

You know, he sees the, you know, he sees, you know, and hears about Kobe once you get here.

It's a certain, you know, act that you have to have to become a Laker.

You hear the stories, and I think he jumped on that.

I remember when Rui came to L.A., you know, he was working out with LeBron, so I think it's something that, you know, it's a brand that you catch up, catch on to, and he's done a great job with his body, and he's had, you know, some nagging injuries, but he hasn't had, like, um, Let me let this guy over.

If they're the gold standard, how far off are the

joined us, and he talked about the Lakers now having a fourth option.

You got, you know, three guys that can ball.

Just go out and ball with him, you know? And I think, you know, if he does that, I do think that they're starting to include him early.

I think some guys... you have to initiate and get them the ball, whether that's a lob or something off a pick and roll.

His defense, I thought, was amazing.

Then once he gets a few touches, they're active.

They get involved.

What is it about Luka and Austin Reeves playing together in the way that they do that makes them so difficult for very good NBA teams or anybody to guard?

Well, I hate saying the things that always sound like excuses, but the fact that they finally got everybody healthy and together and played together for a while, a few games, and I think the coaching staff was able to figure out how to deal with the trio.

You look at LeBron's role now, it's more off-ball, I think he's enjoying it, and I think he realizes that he can be most productive in that role, and he allows Austin Reeves to handle the ball just as much as Luka.

To me, Luka obviously is super talented, but they both are very efficient, and I think having them on the floor together, sometimes with and without LeBron, and allowing Luka Austin to flourish with the ball in his hands.

He gets to the free throw line.

He and Luka do the same thing.

They get to the line.

Do you think this can be a good defensive team with their personnel? If LeBron, Austin Reeves, and Luka are out there, is it possible? And how do they do that? Because they're probably going to need that to win a playoff series.