WATCH: Lakers’ LeBron James Marks His Return With a Classic Hook Shot

Los Angeles Lakers fans rejoiced in the return of the King tonight. After over a month on the sidelines, LeBron James finally returned to action against the Sacramento Kings. This is the longest he has stayed out of action, so fans have been eagerly awaiting his return. And he didn’t disappoint.

Although the Lakers looked shaky, Bron was doing his best to keep them ahead. He wasn’t as aggressive as he usually is, possibly taking a quieter approach since he is just returning from an injury. But he still showed some glimpses of his best.

Early in the first half, LeBron showed off his exquisite post moves. With a taller Marvin Bagley III defending him, Bron took a few seconds to analyse the situation.

He then took the perfect opportunity to blow past Bagley and drove to the rim. Bagley’s wingspan still allowed him to contest the shot, but LeBron hit a graceful hook shot, and the Kings could do nothing but watch it go in.

While LeBron isn’t tall like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the creator of the skyhook, he used it to his advantage to beat the defense. Very few players in the league are as skilled as LeBron in the post.

LeBron James doesn’t show out on the score sheet; Almost gets the win

Usually, whenever LeBron plays, his stats are the most noticeable on the box score. He contributes on both ends, which makes him not only an impactful player on the court but also on the score sheet. But tonight was an exception to that.

He finished with just 16 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, but he was a force both offensively and defensively. His arrival helped the Lakers become more organized, especially on offense.

Dennis Schroder had stepped up with his playmaking in Bron’s absence, but now that he is back, the Lakers look a lot better.

With two steals, one block and his unlimited hustle, LeBron did his best to keep the Kings at bay, but eventually it wasn’t enough. The highlight of his stat line was that he had the best +/- among the Lakers’ starters. That truly defines his impact.

Unfortunately, a lack of concentration towards the end led to a loss for the Lakers. LeBron missed a potential game winner, but that attempt was too tough. The Lakers need him to step up and help them improve, as they hope to finish strongly in the regular season.

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