Five players of the Los Angeles Lakers managed to score in double digits. However, they were no match for the heavy numbers the Memphis Grizzlies‘ top-five scorers put up. Jaren Jackson Jr., Marcus Smart, and Desmond Bane led the charge, with Ja Morant contributing 21 points as the fourth-highest scorer. In contrast, LeBron James spearheaded the Lakers’ scoring with 32 points, followed closely by Anthony Davis with 31 points. The Grizzlies outperformed the purple and gold across various metrics, excelling in field goal percentage, three-pointers, rebounding, and assists.
Despite the Lakers leveling with the Grizzlies early in the fourth quarter, it only catalyzed the opposition to embark on another scoring run, leaving the Lakers trailing behind. The Lakers, after relinquishing their first-quarter lead, struggled to keep pace with the Grizzlies, ultimately succumbing to their dominant performance.
With initial apprehensions, LeBron James pays homage to Ricky Rubio
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LeBron James was visibly affected by the recent disappointing performances of the Los Angeles Lakers. Furthermore, he had his emotions exposed while discussing the team’s struggles. As the conversation concluded, an interviewer went off-topic, shifting it to Ricky Rubio’s retirement. James, with frustration in his demeanor after the Lakers got their “a** whooped,” displayed reluctance to address the question. Despite his initial resistance, he proceeded to commend Rubio for his exceptional skills and contributions to the league.
LeBron James: “We suck right now.” He also framed LAL’s in-season tournament as “only two games,” suggesting that championship should be given the proper weight pic.twitter.com/a1IaENpWyh
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) January 6, 2024
Furthermore, James emphasized that his intention was solely to show respect for Rubio and clarified that his reluctance to speak about Rubio stemmed from what he deemed “bad timing” on the interviewer’s part.
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Rubio took an early exit from the NBA
Ricky Rubio’s retirement from the NBA came suddenly and as a shock to many fans, leaving them puzzled. The retirement news came via social media on Thursday, and it appeared unexpected. Earlier, in August, Rubio decided to take a break from his role with the Cleveland Cavaliers and basketball to prioritize his mental health. Even though signaling the end of his NBA career, fans were expecting to see Rubio back in action, later in the future if not quickly. However, Rubio is now retired from the league.
Expressing his gratitude, Rubio acknowledged all of his clubs, with special mentions for Cleveland, and the team’s president of basketball operations, Koby Altman. Furthermore, keeping the details of his decision covered, he hinted at sharing his full experience sometime shortly to support others facing similar situations.
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Throughout his career, Rubio played for the Timberwolves for a total of seven seasons and also had stints with the Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz, and Cleveland Cavaliers. Notably, he achieved a world title with Spain in 2019.