LeBron James finally feels 40 after Austin Reaves ‘dumba** lob’ against Pelicans

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James connected on Austin Reaves' lob in the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans.

LeBron James finally feels 40 after Austin Reaves ‘dumba** lob’ against Pelicans

LeBron James and Los Angeles Lakers teammate Austin Reaves

LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers are fighting to stay in a favorable playoff position. They did not have a favorable record in the month of March when the 40-year-old was out injured. Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves tried to keep them in the hunt but could not make up for the loss of their leading superstar.

Their previous loss to the Golden State Warriors did not help matters after Doncic struggled mightily from the field. But Reaves managed to continue his hot shooting form, but it was not enough. Today against the New Orleans Pelicans, they knew they had to win.

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They could have rested the oldest player in the league, but he opted to play the second of their home back-to-back’s as he knows how important each game is. The game started slow and in the second quarter, they collectively turned on the jets and streaked into a comfortable lead.

From then on, they kept pace with the Pelicans and did not have to bring out exceptional plays to keep the lead. But on one instance late in the fourth quarter, a tipped rebound fell into Reaves’ path. He had to move the ball behind his back to his other hand to avoid a steal.

During this sequence, a streaking LeBron James was sprinting at full speed. But when he saw that behind the back move and that Reaves lost the ball momentarily, he had to slow down. Finally, when Reaves gathered the ball and lobbed, James accelerated and dunked it with both hands.

LeBron James trolls Austin Reaves for uber-slow alley oop

LeBron James is known for being in top shape even at the ripe age of 40. But that behind the back move slowed his progress and made him wait for the lob. That and the low height on the lob apparently made him feel like an old player, which he revealed while trolling Austin Reaves back in the locker room.

That dumba** lob set me back three days.

LeBron James said

This joke sent the locker room full of reporters into a bout of laughter. They also saw how James had to adjust to the situation. When finally, the ball was lobbed, it did not have the height to bring out a statement jam. Instead, it was a mild one, something that the 40-year-old is not used to doing.

This was not the end of the Akron native’s trolls as he kept on shouting out other jokes Austin Reaves’ way while the guard was speaking with reporters. But he also kept shouting out NSFW phrases of appreciation towards his teammate, acknowledging him for doing his part in the win.

Lakers’ next three road games will help define playoff standings

The Los Angeles Lakers have a day of rest before they travel for a three-game road trip. The first two will be against the league leading Oklahoma City Thunder. Both those games culminate into a back-to-back against the Dallas Mavericks.

The Houston Rockets gave the entire league the blueprint on how to defeat the Thunder. But it would be wise for the Lakers if they do not exhaust themselves trying to incorporate it in both games. LeBron James knows all too well how Anthony Davis plays.

If they can conserve their energy in the second game against the Thunder, they can focus on winning against the Mavericks. However, the team could be motivated to win all those three games. In the event they do win them, their playoff seeding will be almost clear.

Then they can relax against the Houston Rockets and the Portland Trail Blazers. But a loss or two or three in this road series could force them to win either or both of those final two games. Otherwise, they could lose a favorable playoff matchup in the first round.