According to Chicco Nacion of The Score on Thursday, there are some National Basketball Association executives and player agents who are recommending that the remainder of the 2020-21 NBA regular season and playoffs be cancelled because of coronavirus. However, one person who disagrees with immediate cancellation at this time is Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James of Akron, Ohio.
On Twitter today, James said the following:
“Saw some reports about execs and agents wanting to cancel season??? That’s absolutely not true. Nobody I know saying anything like that. As soon as it’s safe we would like to finish our season. I’m ready and our team is ready. Nobody should be canceling anything.”
James’s tweet has brought in over 131,000 likes in two hours. Clearly, despite the fact we are in the process of a horrendous pandemic, there is a strong worldwide appetite for professional basketball and for NBA executives to find any way possible to finish the regular season and playoffs.
At the time of the NBA delay of the season, the Lakers had a record of 49 wins and 14 losses after 63 games. They also had a five and a half-game lead over the Los Angeles Clippers for first place in the Western Conference.
So far this season, James has played in 60 games, and is averaging 25.7 points per game and 7.9 rebounds per game. What is the most stunning statistic however is the fact that James is leading the NBA with an average of 10.6 assists per game. While moving to the point guard position in 2019-20, James has clearly has made a remarkable transition to being a dependable playmaker at the age of 35.
One of the reasons why James could be in support of a return is simple. He may not get many more chances to win the NBA Finals. This Lakers team where James plays alongside Anthony Davis, is as good as any to go deep if there is a playoff.
