The Los Angeles Clippers traded away Rajon Rondo and Patrick Beverley to clear some luxury tax bill. In the process, however, they also got Eric Bledsoe who has been compared to LeBron James by CJ McCollum.
In the latest episode of his “Pull Up with CJ McCollum” podcast, the Portland Trail Blazers star admitted he is a big fan of Bledsoe since the new Clippers guard is really athletic and capable of running a team. In fact, he went as far as to saying Bledsoe is “mini-LeBron.”
“I’m a big fan of Eric Bledsoe. He’s like mini LeBron. Super athletic explosive can lead a team, can run a team. Has had some great years of basketball, especially with the Phoenix Suns,” McCollum explained, per Essentially Sports.
Of course, it goes without saying that CJ McCollum liked the Clippers' move to acquire a playmaker and athlete of Eric Bledsoe's caliber. For the Blazers guard, it's a smart move that bolsters LA's defense and ball-handling.
“I like the Bledsoe move. Personally, I think he’s a good defender. He’s aggressive, he’s athletic, he’s explosive,” McCollum added.
For what it's worth, it's not the first time that Bledsoe has been called a baby LeBron James–a reference to the guard's 6-foot-1 build. After all, his Basketball Reference page even has “Mini LeBron” as his nickname.
Jamal Crawford started it during Bledsoe's early years when he was with the Clippers, per ESPN. LeBron apparently also acknowledged it back then, with Bledsoe claiming that LeBron once called him after a game to say “This is Baby LeBron James.”
The Clippers will certainly hope that Bledsoe can live up to such nickname, especially since they are in a quest to finally bring the other LA team to the promised land. But hey, it's definitely fun to know that Kawhi and LeBron (the mini one) are finally in the same team.
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