The shove that sent LeBron James stumbling into a wide-open Danilo Gallinari said a lot about the state of the Los Angeles Lakers, as a second-year forward in Kyle Kuzma pushed James toward the open shooter in hopes he would contest the shot.
While the play was reviewed, criticized and over-analyzed by those infatuated with diagnosis of what ails the team, internally, neither the Lakers nor James' inner circle made much of the play, not faulting Kuzma for wanting to stay on top of the play or taking it as a sign of showing him up.
“I mean that was like 10 games ago, I’m not talking about that,” said Kuzma after a 123-107 win over the Chicago Bulls, according to Joe Vardon of The Athletic. “It is what is.”
The play was actually only three games ago, but regardless, it didn't seem like Kuzma had any ulterior motives by trying to resolve a play that just wound up in pure confusion.
The Lakers' chances of making the playoffs are now very, very slim, and the loss of Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball for the remainder of the season certainly doesn't make it any easier.
It's very unlikely that Kuzma shoving James would be something worth remembering in what has been an otherwise season to forget for the Lakers, who now hope to bolster the team in the upcoming free-agency period and in the NBA Draft.
Follow Us
Subscribe