LeBron James on Las Vegas: 'Hopefully I can bring my franchise here one day'

Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Lakers’ injury report for tomorrow’s game vs. New Orleans:
— AD and Jarred Vanderbilt are probable.
— LeBron is questionable.
— Gabe Vincent is out. pic.twitter.com/IC3x3MRMn0 – 8:11 PM

Khobi Price @khobi_price
Darvin Ham’s says “somewhere in between” when asked about his willingness to play his main guys – particularly LeBron James – for the IST like he would for a playoff game vs. a regular-season game: pic.twitter.com/aM9uzBPu4H – 7:51 PM

Arash Markazi @ArashMarkazi
LeBron James on the UNLV shooting: pic.twitter.com/jXpHrqXgR0 – 7:37 PM

Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwill
LeBron on Vegas: “Hopefully I can bring my franchise here.” – 7:20 PM

Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
LeBron James: “Hopefully I can bring my franchise here one day. That’s the ultimate (goal).” – 7:14 PM

Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwill
LeBron on Bronny at yesterday’s game: “to see to be have the ability to be able to point at him and see him smiling and… alive”
“I’m not saying I took it for granted before but puts everything in perspective for sure.” – 7:13 PM

Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
LeBron James, on players buying into the In-Season Tournament:
“Adam Silver is a genius. It’s that simple. This is gonna work.” – 7:11 PM

Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwill
LeBron: “It makes no sense that we continue to lose innocent lives. You know, all campuses, on schools, shopping markets, and, you know, movie theaters and all that type of stuff. It’s just, it’s ridiculous. It’s ridiculous.” – 7:09 PM

Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwill
LeBron on the tragedy at UNLV: “I said before about guns in America. I think it’s such a longer conversation… we’ve been dealing with the same story the same conversation every single time that happens and it just continues to happen.” – 7:09 PM

Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
For the sickos who like to watch, Wednesday’s @LockedOnLakers pod, on YouTube. The Lakers beat the Suns for a trip to Vegas and the in-season tourney Semis. Big nights from LeBron, Reaves and the Lakers defense. @LockedOnNetwork @LockedOnNBAPods
youtu.be/BxpZUzsFjto?t=1 – 5:16 PM

Tom Haberstroh @tomhaberstroh
Each of these 4 LeBron James career segments are statistically Hall of Fame caliber ON THEIR OWN. Here are the numbers (and more!) to support that: tomthefinder.com/p/the-4-hall-o… pic.twitter.com/gYqJX7ZeUN – 4:07 PM

Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
A few NBA regular-season award updates in the odds department, via @SportsBettingAG – LeBron James and Anthony Davis are pretty far down the list for NBA MVP, with Nikola Jokic currently the heavy favorite: pic.twitter.com/oGlEmKj0NC – 3:04 PM

Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
A few NBA Cup odds ahead of tomorrow’s clash between the Lakers and Pelicans, via @SportsBettingAG – LeBron James is the favorite to win NBA MVP while the Bucks are favored to win the NBA Cup just ahead of the Lakers: pic.twitter.com/lwonH5r02C – 3:01 PM

Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
With a trip to Las Vegas and a cash prize on the line, LeBron James scored or assisted on the Lakers’ first 19 points of the fourth quarter as they held off the Suns to advance in the In-Season Tournament.
On LeBron’s ridiculous crunch-time dominance: theathletic.com/5115839/2023/1… – 1:53 PM

Tom Haberstroh @tomhaberstroh
In his 1,442nd game, LeBron James tallied 31 pts, 11 ast, 8 reb and 5 stl last night in the win.
It’s becoming harder and harder to put LeBron’s career in perspective. But: I think LeBron has stacked FOUR Hall of Fame careers into one: tomthefinder.com/p/the-4-hall-o…🔦 pic.twitter.com/a5mhhhJilA – 12:31 PM

Stephen Noh @StephNoh
It’s cool that LeBron can still turn it up and make heady defensive plays in crunch time.
Watch him hedge and recover here to help contain Booker, then rotate over as the low man to get the steal. pic.twitter.com/gPjkuT17TF – 11:59 AM

Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
Wednesday’s @LockedOnLakers podcast! The Lakers take out the Suns, head to Vegas for the In-Season Tourney semis. Big nights for LeBron, AD, Reaves and the entire defense. @LockedOnNetwork @LockedOnNBAPods
Subscribe. Rate. Enjoy. Thx
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leb… – 10:33 AM

StatMuse @statmuse
LeBron James is 5th in total minutes played this season.
He turns 39 this month. statmuse.com/nba/player/leb… – 10:00 AM

Justin Kubatko @jkubatko
LeBron James last night:
31 PTS
11 AST
5 STL
He’s by far the oldest player to record at least 30 points, 10 assists, and five steals in a game since the NBA began tracking steals in 1973-74. No other player is within five years of him.
More: statitudes.com/p/nba-game-not… pic.twitter.com/vrwjMToMRP – 8:54 AM

Emiliano Carchia @Sportando
LeBron James (31p+8r+11a+5s) DOMINATES In NBA In-Season Quarterfinals Win sportando.basketball/en/lebron-jame… – 3:59 AM

Khobi Price @khobi_price
“I mean no disrespect to anybody else: He’s the best quarterback in the NBA.”
Lakers coach Darvin Ham on LeBron James’ takeover in the 4Q of tonight’s IST win over the Suns.
LeBron scored or assisted on 19 (15 points and 2 assists) of the Lakers’ 23 points in the 4Q: pic.twitter.com/y1gryewCsF – 3:03 AM

Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
LeBron James, Austin Reaves controversial call push Lakers past Suns, to Vegas and tournament semi-finals
nbcsports.com/nba/news/lebro… – 2:55 AM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
“I thought Book ran into me. And it’s late game and I don’t know if they were trying to foul or what but there was no call. And obviously Bron made a high IQ play as he’s probably done a million times in his career. And called timeout.” Austin Reaves on the play. #Suns #Lakers pic.twitter.com/gow8lLx9Hc – 2:35 AM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LeBron after going for 31 points, 11 assists, 8 rebounds and 5 steals in 40 minutes of the In-Season Tournament Quarterfinals in his 21st season:
“Father time is undefeated. I’m trying to give him one loss.” – 1:52 AM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Anthony Davis on Austin Reaves:
“He’s made countless big shots for us. We trust him. We have a lot of confidence in him.”
Reaves said in the walk off that the first thing he wanted to do when he got to L.A. was to gain the trust of LeBron and AD. – 1:48 AM

Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
Lakers point-differentials for the season:
LeBron James: +107
…
D’Angelo Russell: +32
Rui Hachimura: +29
Anthony Davis: +20
Jarred Vanderbilt: +14
Gabe Vincent: +10
Christian Wood: +4
Cam Reddish: -8
Austin Reaves: -15
Taurean Prince: -29
Max Christie: -34
Jaxson Hayes: -36 – 1:32 AM

Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
LeBron James was +12 tonight.
Every other Laker starter had a negative point-differential. Taurean Prince was -12.
Shit is comical at this point. – 1:27 AM

Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Darvin Ham on LeBron James scoring or assisting on the first 19 points of the fourth quarter: “No disrespect to anyone but he’s the best quarterback in the league.” – 1:00 AM

Marc J. Spears @MarcJSpears
And just when you think the NBA couldn’t make the In-Season Tournament work any better for itself in its inaugural, LeBron and his storied Lakers are now headed to Vegas where they are the most popular team in this town which means increased ticket sales and more global interest. pic.twitter.com/C7WSmBsPrB – 12:54 AM

Chris Vernon @ChrisVernonShow
LeBron = greatest timeout caller ever? Tomorrow on Undispooted – 12:48 AM

Ball Don’t Lie @Balldontlie
Another night in the office for LBJ 👑 pic.twitter.com/wcvufrWBAf – 12:47 AM

Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
Giannis and LeBron going to Vegas for the in-season tournament Final Four #NBA #Eurowatch
eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/15… – 12:47 AM

Adam Spolane @AdamSpolane
I’m not saying the games will be fixed, but I am saying there’s no way David Stern would’ve allowed the Pelicans or Pacers to ruin his LeBron-Giannis Saturday night Vegas showcase – 12:45 AM

Allen Sliwa @AllenSliwa
Off to Vegas for the LakeShow…Fun game, AD carries the Lakers in 1st half, Bron & Reaves bring it home in 2nd half
As the Lakers continue to get healthy, no more excuses left, need to start beating some good teams and stacking up some W’s
Thursday in Vegas vs the Pelicans – 12:44 AM

Adam Spolane @AdamSpolane
I’m not saying the games will be fixed, but I am saying there’s no way David Stern would allow the Pelicans or Pacers to ruin his LeBron-Giannis Saturday night Vegas showcase – 12:44 AM

Dave McMenamin @mcten
The Lakers win, 106-103, with KD’s 3 falling short at the buzzer. LAL is now 5-0 in the IST and heading to Vegas to play New Orleans in the Semifinals on Thursday. LeBron scored 15 of his 31 pts in the 4th Q to go with 11a 8r 5s; AD 27p and 15r; Reaves 20p 6r. – 12:44 AM

Brad Turner @BA_Turner
LeBron James almost had triple-double with 31 points, 11 assists, 8 rebounds in 40 minutes. AD had 27 points, 15 rebounds and Austin Reaves had 20 points. – 12:43 AM

Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Final: Lakers 106, Suns 103
LA improves to 13-9 and advances to Las Vegas for the semifinals of the In-Season Tournament. Huge fourth quarter from LeBron James and second half from Austin Reaves. LeBron had 31 points, 8 rebounds and 11 assists.
Up next: vs. NOP on Thursday. – 12:43 AM

StatMuse @statmuse
KD tonight:
31 PTS
7 REB
12-17 FG
4-7 3P
2,000+ days without a win against LeBron. statmuse.com/nba/player/kev… – 12:43 AM

Ben Golliver @BenGolliver
Lakers beat Suns, 106-103, as LeBron James scores 15 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter and Austin Reaves hits a clutch three in the final minute.
– The NBA in-season tournament’s semifinals are set: Pacers vs. Bucks and Lakers vs. Pelicans – 12:43 AM

Khobi Price @khobi_price
Final: Lakers 106, Suns 103. The Lakers are headed to Las Vegas for the In-Season Tournament’s semifinals. They’ll play the Pelicans on Thursday.
LeBron James: 31 points, 11 assists, eight rebounds and five steals. Anthony Davis: 27 points, 15 rebounds, two blocks. – 12:42 AM

Will Guillory @WillGuillory
The Pelicans will face the Los Angeles Lakers in the semifinals of the In-Season Tournament on Thursday in Las Vegas.
Zion and BI vs LeBron and AD. – 12:42 AM

StatMuse @statmuse
LeBron tonight:
31 PTS
8 REB
11 AST
5 STL
2 3P
Him. statmuse.com/nba/player/leb… – 12:41 AM

Christopher Hine @ChristopherHine
That was a secret in-season tournament rule only LeBron knew about that you can call timeout when you don’t have the ball. – 12:41 AM

Zach Kram @zachkram
Before tonight, the oldest players ever with 30 points, 10 assists, and 5 steals in a game were 32 years old (Iverson and Walt Frazier).
LeBron reached those thresholds tonight—and he’s weeks away from turning 39! – 12:37 AM

Rob Perez @WorldWideWob
All those years we questioned if he’d still have enough in the tank for when Bronny got to the league and now im wondering about LeBron James III. – 12:35 AM

Kellan Olson @KellanOlson
Suns looked as shocked as all of us that LeBron wasn’t getting the ball there. Reaves just pulls with some time left on the clock. Brutal. – 12:35 AM

Dan Favale @danfavale
lebron james is… pic.twitter.com/PEgRVnY1O4 – 12:31 AM

Kendrick Perkins @KendrickPerkins
At some point Nurkic has to get tired of Bron picking on him. My God. – 12:31 AM

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Back-to-back buckets from LeBron and the Lakers are up 5 with 2:20 to go. Lakers have won the physicality game all night, and thanks to their offensive rebounds and the Suns’ turnovers, LA’s taken TWENTY-FIVE more shots than Phoenix – 12:30 AM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
That’s 15 points in the 4th Q from LeBron (31 total). – 12:30 AM

Kellan Olson @KellanOlson
LeBron going right at Nurkic in crunch time, just like he did in the Suns’ loss in L.A. earlier this season. Crazy finish there. – 12:30 AM

Bobby Manning @RealBobManning
LeBron man. – 12:30 AM

Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
LeBron has scored or assisted on all 19 Lakers points in the fourth quarter (15 points and two assists). – 12:30 AM

Rosalyn Gold-Onwude @ROSGO21
Really crazy how LeBron is redefining what longevity can look like in this league 🤯🤯 – 12:30 AM

Mark Medina @MarkG_Medina
LeBron James spins his fingers around his head after having another epic performance. My @Sportsnaut piece earlier that calls for the Lakers to win the In-Season tournament and for LeBron to win MVP bit.ly/416c7Qc – 12:30 AM

Khobi Price @khobi_price
Back-to-back buckets from LeBron to put the Lakers up 102-97 with 2:20 remaining. – 12:29 AM

John Karalis @John_Karalis
The over/under on Reggie Miller mentioning LeBron’s age during a broadcast has to be in the double digits, right? – 12:28 AM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
LeBron finds Davis. #Suns down one. – 12:23 AM

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Excellent timing on the double there from Eric Gordon after the Suns had Grayson Allen switched onto LeBron James – 12:19 AM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LeBron has the quad 5 tonight: 25 points, 10 assists, 6 boards and 5 steals (tying his Lakers mark in swipes) with 7:36 to play. – 12:13 AM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LeBron just scored 7 straight points in the 4th Q, first with a 7-foot jumper in the paint, then a layup through traffic, and then a pull-up 3 to put LAL up 94-89 with 7:36 to play.
Meanwhile, Kevin Durant rolled his left ankle a bit, but he’s staying in the game. – 12:13 AM

Wes Goldberg @wcgoldberg
Book this season was making a claim to be considered better than both Durant and LeBron but this game feels like the adults taking control and making a serious decision. – 12:12 AM

Khobi Price @khobi_price
7 straight points from LeBron James, including that pull-up 3 in transition; to put the Lakers in front 94-89 with 7:36 in the 4Q.
LeBron with 25 points, 10 assists and 6 rebounds. – 12:12 AM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
On that double screen, you’d think they’d double LeBron, but because he finds people, they play him straight up.
James inside 2. Eubanks dunk answer.
James to the rim again. Has 22. #Suns down two. – 12:10 AM

John Hollinger @johnhollinger
Sure, he’s one of the 3 greatest players ever and won 4 championships. But only in these next 12 minutes will we learn if LeBron is TOURNAMENT TOUGH – 12:03 AM

Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Third quarter: Lakers 83, Suns 82
We have ourselves a close game. Austin Reaves scored 14 points in the third to keep LA afloat (he’s up to 17 total). AD has 24 points and 7 rebounds. LeBron has 16 points and 9 assists. Suns are shooting 52.7% overall and 50% on 3s. – 12:01 AM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Durant and Booker each have 3 fouls.
Davis has one foul, LeBron 2 fouls.
#Suns back down one as Davis hits FTs after being fouled by Durant. #Lakers – 11:54 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Davis has played 27 minutes, LeBron 26 minutes
Booker has played 27 minutes, Durant 27 minutes.
#Suns #Lakers – 11:52 PM

Nick DePaula @NickDePaula
LeBron James is in the @GoDucks Bron 21s tonight 🦆 pic.twitter.com/1SwxwLbWoP – 11:20 PM

Dave McMenamin @mcten
The Lakers lead 59-47 at the half. Good: LAL has 12 offensive rebounds as a team. Better: AD leads all scorers with 20 points. Best: LeBron’s a +23 in 19 mins with 14p 7a 4r 3s. – 11:18 PM

Ball Don’t Lie @Balldontlie
BRON IS TOO STRONG 💪
Lakers lead the Suns 59-47 at halftime.
(via @NBA)
pic.twitter.com/f1iCTsIaz8 – 11:18 PM

Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Halftime: Lakers 59, Suns 47
Anthony Davis has 20 points and 6 rebounds. LeBron has 14 points, 7 rebounds and 3 steals. LA has 12 offensive rebounds — four from Vando, 3 from AD and 3 from LeBron. They’re just 4-for-16 on 3s (25%) — they’ve missed a ton of great looks. – 11:18 PM

Khobi Price @khobi_price
Halftime: Lakers 59, Suns 47.
Anthony Davis: 20 points, 6 rebounds. LeBron James: 14 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds.
Lakers with 12 OREBs for 15 second-chance points. Suns’ 14 turnovers led to 16 L.A. points. – 11:17 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Lakers had 12 offensive rebounds in the 1st half, 1 shy of their season high for a game (13 at Denver, opening night).
LAL were 30th coming in (8.2 per game). Vanderbilt (4) helps, and Davis and LeBron had 3 apiece. – 11:16 PM

Brad Turner @BA_Turner
Lakers open 59-47 half-time lead over Suns. AD has 20 points, 6 rebounds and LeBron James has 14 points and 7 assists. – 11:15 PM

Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
Lebron and AD have throughly dominated this first half – 11:12 PM

John Hollinger @johnhollinger
Guys who played in the first LeBron vs. KD game, among others: Damien Wilkins, Eric Snow, Kurt Thomas, and Ira Newble – 11:07 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
LeBron James missed hitting the basketball trying to swipe it away from Jusuf Nurkic.
Hit something else. He’s good.
Suns have 12 turnovers that’s led to 14 Lakers points.
Down 44-31. #Suns – 10:56 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
LeBron James again.
Suns down 15, biggest deficit of game. #Suns – 10:54 PM

Brad Turner @BA_Turner
LeBron James already has 6 assists – 10:51 PM

Kellan Olson @KellanOlson
No one was matched up with LeBron James bringing the ball up off that Suns make. Leads to a wide-open 3.
Suns down 13. – 10:51 PM

Khobi Price @khobi_price
End of 1Q: Lakers 33, Suns 23.
L.A. closed out the quarter on an 8-0 run behind the lineup of Austin Reaves, Jarred Vanderbilt, Rui Hachimura, LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Phoenix with 10 turnovers for 12 L.A. points.
Anthony Davis: 14 points. – 10:43 PM

Dave McMenamin @mcten
Great start for the Lakers here in the IST quarterfinals. They lead the Suns 33-23 after 1Q. AD 14 points. Suns 10 1st Q turnovers – LeBron has 3 steals and Vanderbilt provided really effective on-ball pressure. – 10:43 PM

Peter Vecsey @PeterVecsey1
If the Lakers win the tournament, does LeBron tie Kobe with five championships? – 10:42 PM

Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
First quarter: Lakers 33, Suns 23
After trailing big early in the two previous matchups, LA was in control of that first quarter. AD has 14 points. LeBron has 5 points and 4 assists. Jarred Vanderbilt’s energy and defense stood out. LA has already forced PHX into 10 turnovers. – 10:41 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LAL have not been an offensive rebounding team thus far … but Vanderbilt just got back. His O board got LeBron a 3, which put LAL up 31-23. – 10:39 PM

Peter Vecsey @PeterVecsey1
LeBron pitched a legit bitch… – 10:29 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
A potential 5-point swing goes against LAL early, as LeBron’s transition pass that looked to be leading to a layup went of Booker’s foot – LeBron wanted a kick – and Phoenix converted an and-1 the other way to get within 2 at 20-18. – 10:28 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
LeBron James thought that was a kickball when his bounce pass hit off #Suns players foot.
That turned into a transition opportunity Phoenix capitalized as Allen scores in transition, fouled by Russell.
FT. #Suns down two. – 10:28 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Max Christie is the first Laker off the bench, replacing Reddish. Christie’s been excellent defensively, and hitting shots on the other end of late.
LAL got an alley-oop layup from LeBron (4 assists) to AD (5 points) to take an 18-11 lead. – 10:26 PM

Dan Favale @danfavale
lebron nonchalantly throwing one-handed lasers >>> pic.twitter.com/aHAp51FaWS – 10:24 PM

Rob Peterson @ShotDrJr
That LeBron pass. My word. – 10:23 PM

NBA Kicks @NBAKicks
🦆 21s for @KingJames! #NBAKicks
🏆 NBA In-Season Tournament KNOCKOUT ROUND on TNT 📺 pic.twitter.com/mMrRyzoH5K – 10:23 PM

Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
What a pass Bron – 10:23 PM

Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
We’re watching an NBA game that features LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Anthony Davis, yet I’m reasonably confident Devin Booker is the best player on the floor. Can’t think of a more “he’s arrived” sentence than that. – 10:17 PM

Kellan Olson @KellanOlson
Gordon on James is one of those 4D chess moves from Vogel knowing this team. LeBron finds the lane there after missing a jumper. – 10:17 PM

Mark Medina @MarkG_Medina
LeBron James showing In-Season tournament intensity with the chalk toss pic.twitter.com/wxgKLU16t5 – 10:14 PM

Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Lakers’ starters vs. Phoenix:
D’Angelo Russell
Taurean Prince
Cam Reddish
LeBron James
Anthony Davis
LA is 6-1 with this starting group. – 9:46 PM

Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
Anthony Davis (left adductor/hip spasm), Rui Hachimura (nasal fracture), LeBron James (left calf contusion) and Jarred Vanderbilt (left heel bursitis) have been upgraded to AVAILABLE for tonight’s game vs. Phoenix. – 9:15 PM

Khobi Price @khobi_price
Darvin Ham said he expects everyone, besides Gabe Vincent, to be available for the Lakers’ in-season tournament matchup tonight against the Suns.
D’Angelo Russell, Taurean Prince, Cam Reddish, LeBron James and Anthony Davis will start. – 8:31 PM

Chiney Ogwumike @chiney
Fell in love with these numbers that sum up the greatness of LeBron and KD this season… pic.twitter.com/IpiWbkzSi2 – 8:05 PM

Ball Don’t Lie @Balldontlie
LeBron putting up pregame shots while the dancers are rehearsing 😅
(via @mcten)
pic.twitter.com/ZvXVsJKlvb – 7:35 PM