LeBron James Animatedly Trolls Jalen Hurts’ Eagles as Bucs Pull Off NFL Wildcard Shocker

The Los Angeles Lakers, currently experiencing a challenging season, have shown signs of rejuvenation as they reach the midway point. Their recent Martin Luther King Jr. Day triumph over the second-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder reflected a renewed determination for playoff contention. Despite a halftime deadlock with a 50-50 score, the Lakers seized control in the third quarter, outscoring their opponents 34-26 and establishing an eight-point lead. Building on this advantage, the Lakers successfully secured a 112-105 victory.

However, the NFL slate also had exciting matchups on MLK Day, including a wild-card round of the NFL playoffs game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs capped off their season impressively by dominating Jalen Hurts and the defending NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles, handing them a sixth loss in seven games with a decisive 32-9 wild-card defeat. LeBron James, an avid NFL fan, did not hold himself back from rubbing salt in their wound.

LeBron James playfully mocks the Eagles after NFL wild-card loss

After the Lakers’ Monday night triumph, LeBron James injected humor into a post-game interview by playfully mocking the Philadelphia Eagles. Someone was watching a clip from the Eagles vs. Bucs game in the background when James burst into laughter mid-interview while chanting, “E-A-G-L-E-S Eagles.” However, he swiftly apologized for the light-hearted interruption before going back to answering questions.

This comes on the heels of the 4x NBA Champion praising Eagles QB Jalen Hurts’ winning mindset. Hurts, in an interview, emphasized that “winning is the only thing that truly matters.” James reacted to the statement, expressing, “Only a few truly understands exactly what he’s saying! And that’s a shame.” Following the exchange, the duo met for the first time when the Lakers visited Philadelphia to face the 76ers in November. However, while the Eagles’ season has mercilessly come to a close, can James and the Lakers get their season on track?

Can the Lakers turn their season around?

The Lakers displayed remarkable form when they clinched victory in the in-season tournament, boasting a strong 14-9 record. However, their momentum proved to be short-lived as they experienced a downturn, losing 12 of their last 18 games. In addition to grappling with injuries, the Lakers have struggled to impress offensively. They currently rank 28th in three-pointers made, sit at the bottom in three-pointers attempted, and are 20th in three-point efficiency (35.7).

In comparison to the previous season, the Lakers have witnessed a slight but noticeable regression, ranking 24th (10.8), 26th (31.2), and 25th (34.6) in the same statistics, respectively. Therefore, with the trade deadline on the horizon, the Lakers have the perfect opportunity to add more three-point firepower to improve their chances this season. The Lakers’ struggle with consistency is compounded by their difficulty in settling on a starting lineup, leading to a perceived “disconnect” between the locker room and head coach Darvin Ham. The frequent changes in lineups have impeded the team’s ability to establish a rhythm.

Read More: Following in the Footsteps of LeBron James and Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo Sets His Sights on Hollywood After Conquering NBA

Despite these challenges, there are signs that the post-in-season win blues are subsiding, with the Lakers securing victories in three of their last five games. Starting with the game against OKC, Ham has decided to revert to the same starting lineup as last season. The only modification will be Taurean Prince stepping in as the fifth starter, replacing Jarred Vanderbilt. This lineup worked well in their recent victory against OKC. However, it remains to be seen if they can build on this momentum.

Watch this Story: Damian Lillard Wreaks Havoc as Mavs Choke in Clutch – 3 Takeaways as Bucks Nullify Luka “Magic” and Kyrie Irving Wizardry