NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 03: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the New York Knicks during their game at Madison Square Garden on February 03, 2024 in New York City. User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Lakers are set to play against the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night in the first game of the NBA Play-In Tournament.
Winning that game would give them the seventh seed in the West but it would also lead to a new set of challenges because the seventh seed will battle the Denver Nuggets in the opening round.
The Nuggets have repeatedly defeated the Lakers in recent memory but that doesn’t scare LeBron James, according to former NBA star Eddie Johnson.
Speaking on SiriusXM NBA Radio, Johnson said that James is focused on his “legacy” and doesn’t “want the shortcut” in the playoffs.
Instead, Johnson claims that James wants to match-up with the Nuggets so he can try to beat them and improve his legacy.
The Play-In winner of Lakers vs. Pelicans tonight will face the Nuggets in the 1st Round@JumpShot8 tells @TermineRadio he believes LeBron would embrace the opportunity to face Denver again. pic.twitter.com/Si3c0gq1Rm
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) April 16, 2024
It has been some time since the Lakers beat the Nuggets.
They have lost their last eight games versus Nikola Jokic and his team.
Many Lakers fans are worried that playing the Nuggets in the opening round would look a lot like the Western Conference Finals last year when the Lakers got swept.
However, Johnson said that James could improve his legacy if he and his team play the Nuggets.
He could shock the NBA world by beating the reigning champions or he could play very well and earn praise even if his team is defeated.
Either way, the Nuggets could be good for James.
Legacy counts for a lot with James but he also wants to win another championship, so he would love to flat-out beat the Nuggets and then move on to the Finals again.
Recent history doesn’t suggest that’ll happen but James and his Lakers have surprised people before.
If they win the Play-In and beat the Nuggets, it’ll be one of the biggest shocks of the year.
