A fabulous welcome for a legend.
Los Angeles again paid tribute to LeBron James, fresh top scorer in history, but without him his Lakers lost again (115-106) against the Bucks of an imperial Giannis Antetokounmpo at 38 points, Thursday in the NBA.
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As 48 hours earlier, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the previous record holder, was present in the Crypto.com Arena, to see his successor address the fans in the center of the floor, dressed in a suit - he did not didn't play against Milwaukee - and once again surrounded by his mother, wife and three children.
Read alsoNBA: LeBron James always higher in the legend, story of an extraordinary journey
"
That's my starting five
," said the superstar, who had just been introduced by fellow former Lakers idol James Worthy and was keen to thank his childhood idols.
LeBron James HARRY HOW / AFP
“
As a child, I dreamed every day of playing in the NBA and I was inspired by so many people.
I dreamed of passing without looking like Magic Johnson, doing + fade-away + like Michael Jordan, dribbling the ball like Allen Iverson, having an afro and participating in a dunk contest like Kobe Bryant
”, notably listed “
LBJ
”, ovation by the public.
Read alsoNBA: LeBron James, giant, staggering numbers, but … still behind Michael Jordan
The latter then did not have the opportunity to get more enthusiastic during the match that followed, even if the Lakers did not particularly deserve it, like Dennis Shroder (25 pts, 12 assists) and by Anthony Davis (23 pts, 16 rebounds).
They were even ahead at the break (58-50), before Antetokounmpo went into "
Greek Freak
" mode (Greek monster) by scoring 23 points in the second half (10 rebounds, 5 assists), well helped by Khris Middleton (22 pts) effective off the bench.
LeBron James Jayne Kamin-Oncea / REUTERS
The Bucks chain a 9th success in a row that brings them closer to a victory over Boston, leader in the East.
The Lakers remain stuck in 13th position in the West, far from the play-offs, after this third loss in a row.
Orlando surprises Denver
Denver, leader of this conference, for its part began with a setback in Orlando its mini-road-trip to the East (115-104).
And it was the substitutes who were "
Magic
" to allow the 13th in the Eastern Conference to afford this prestigious victory, Cole Anthony (7 assists, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks) and Bol Bol (8/11 on shots) scoring 17 points, in addition to the 19 scored by starter Wendell Carter Jr.
Orlando counted up to 19 units ahead, until Aaron Gordon (37 pts at 15/21, 13 rebounds) brings Denver to -3 (84-81) with an award-winning basket at the end of the third quarter- time.
Author of 10 of his 29 points (12 rebounds, 6 assists) in the following, the double MVP in title Nikola Jokic was nevertheless not enough to put his team back on the path.
In Atlanta, Trae Young emerged in the second half, during which he managed 25 of his 36 points, to allow the Hawks (8th in the East) to stop Phoenix (116-107) who remained on three successes.
The leader, very active (12 assists, 7 rebounds) to excess sometimes with 9 lost balls, was well supported by Dejounte Murray (19 pts).
On the Suns side (6th), who have just achieved the big blow at the end of the transfer window by attracting Kevin Durant, recovering from a sprained knee, it was Josh Okogie who distinguished himself off the bench (25 pts) , Chris Paul contenting himself with 15 points and 8 assists, in the absence of Devin Booker, spared.
Finally, Brooklyn (5th) started its post-Durant / Irving positively, beating Chicago (116-105), thanks in particular to Spencer Dinwiddie (25 pts).
Zach LaVine shone in vain (38 pts) with the Bulls who are vegetating in 9th place.
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