The Los Angeles Lakers were rolling, already climbing 21 points on the Houston Rockets in the second quarter on Tuesday, as LeBron James took the display of dominance to another, ridiculous level.
After catching food in the corner in front of the Lakers couch, James used a fake pump to align a 3-pointer when he heard a voice in his ear coming from behind him. It was Laker’s point guard Dennis Schroder.
“I told him to bet a Benjamin on it, so he shot it,” Schroder said after LA’s win 117-100. “Shot it and turned around and said, ‘Bet.’ Then it went in. It’s just legendary. ”
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LeBron James says Dennis Schroder bet he wouldn’t make no-look 3 while he was shooting. He also covers comparisons to Steph Curry’s no-look 3-pointers.
It wasn’t just scoring a 3 over Ben McLemore to double the Rockets’ score 48-24 that was unforgettable. It was the delivery. You see, James turned to Schroder to collect the $ 100 while the ball was still in the air.
“I took the bet while I was still shooting the ball,” said James. He finished with 26 points when the Lakers improved their league record to 9-3. “A bet is only official when you look a man in the eye, so I had to look him in the eye and I was able to win that.”
There was an immediate appreciation for the showmanship of James’ teammates.
“He’s one of the best that has played this game, and the things he does are always crazy to watch in real time,” said Kyle Kuzma.
In a sport where players are taught to follow their shot from an early age, you don’t often see what James did. Gilbert Arenas once broke it out on a game-winning 3. Former Lakers guard Nick Young, as is known, backfired on him when his shot came out. And Stephen Curry, considered the best shooter the game has ever known, will occasionally do it.
“Steph [has] has probably done the most in our league, and if you shoot the ball as beautifully and effortlessly and precisely as Steph, he has the ultimate, ultra-green light to do just that, “said James of his former NBA Finals foe.” Because ten times out of nine it goes to Steph. “
And James, who hit 4-for-9 from 3 on Tuesday – from a 1-for-11 stretch in his past two games from deep – also has the green light. Whether it’s spinning around while the ball is mid-flight or pulling the logo up to make it fly, as he has done more and more.
“We encourage him to beat the defense over the top,” said Lakers coach Frank Vogel. “There are several reasons for this: (A) he’s probably the best shooter on our team. And (B) they play him softly. They go under screens on him. … in terms of the ‘four-point distance’ shots he He’s got the green light to take them because he’s making them. “
James’ no-look 3 made the free-falling Rockets – now 3-6 after losing four to their last five – looked dumb.
“It doesn’t feel right. Certainly not,” said Houston coach Stephen Silas. “They’re clearly a group that is together and they have fun at our expense. So it doesn’t feel right at all, and we have to take offense. It’s like they’re dancing in our own field. I just have to fight. . “
The Lakers ‘bench erupted after the shot went in, with several of James’ teammates chasing him across the field as he sprinted back into defense. Vogel and James said part of the team’s mission this season is to restore the chemistry that led them to the championship last year. Such moments bring the group together.
“Everyone was having fun,” said Schroder. Everyone talked about it, even during timeouts. It was just a great play. ‘
ESPN’s Tim MacMahon contributed to this report.