Needless to say, the Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James believes the 2020 All-Star Game had full of “competitiveness.” But it wasn’t due to Kobe Bryant.
As James and a number of other All-Stars played in the first All-Star Game since Bryant’s passing, the veteran was asked an interesting question: Were players more competitive to honor the Lakers legend? Did they have a discussion to be more competitive to honor No. 24?
According to LeBron, that wasn’t the case. The four-time MVP argued that the 2020 All-Star Game was competitive because the players in it are normally competitive — that’s why they’re All-Stars.
Via Ryan Ward of Clutch Points:
“No, there was no discussion because we’re all competitors. We wouldn’t be All-Stars if we weren’t competitors. We all compete at the highest level, try to put our respective teams in position to win every night..
So guys definitely just had that sense of pride, that sense of competitiveness throughout the season, throughout the All-Star Game, which we had tonight. But you could definitely feel his presence just from the start..”
While James dismissed the notion that the players were more competitive due to Bryant’s untimely passing, he did say Bryant was on their minds throughout the game.
“From every moment from the fans chanting his name till you seen the numbers. Every time you saw Giannis’ team run on the floor, you saw the 2-4. So he was definitely here.”
The 2020 All-Star game ended in favor of Team LeBron as they defeated Team Giannis, 157-155. The game featured a revamp of the format. When combined with the festivities celebrating the career of Bryant — the All-Star Game MVP award was renamed in honor of Kobe — the game had a special feel to it.
With all of that said, James isn’t buying the notion that players aren’t normally competitive on a nightly basis.
LeBron James’ first children’s book, ‘I PROMISE,’ set for publication in August
LeBron James has many titles: dad, husband, basketball player, actor, philanthropist, media executive, restaurateur, investor.
Add another: children’s book author.
“I PROMISE” — James’ first children’s book — is scheduled for publication on Aug. 11, and his second book, a novel for middle-grade students, will be published in the summer of 2021 as part of a two-book deal with HarperCollins Publishers.
“Books have the ability to teach, inspire, and bring people together,” the Los Angeles Lakers star said in a news release. “That’s why these books, and the opportunity to get children and parents reading together, mean so much to me.
“Most importantly, we wanted to make sure these stories are ones that every single kid can see themselves in. ‘I PROMISE’ is powerful in that way, and I can’t wait for people to read it.”
“I PROMISE” is based on the LeBron James Family Foundation I PROMISE program which provides resources, incentives and academic and emotional support students and families need to stay in schools.
Illustrated by best-selling artist Nina Mata, “I PROMISE” encourages diverse children to be the best version of themselves through action. One page reads, with a child speaking into a megaphone and hearts emerging, “I promise to use my voice and stand up for what’s right. And when things get tough, to keep up the fight.”
Another page reads, “I promise to dream big and love bigger. To be a team player and a winner.”
James’ philosophy and vision are apparent.
“The philanthropy work that LeBron James does off the court, including the education that he’s providing to the students at the I PROMISE School is remarkable,” Suzanne Murphy, president and publisher of HarperCollins Children’s Books, said in a news release. “With a universal message that encourages everyone to always strive for greatness, I PROMISE will resonate with students and readers everywhere.”
James has been a devout reader since he was a kid, and at All-Star Weekend in Chicago on Saturday, he talked about how much he enjoyed reading.
“I used to be like one of the only kids in school who used to read newspapers,” James said. “I would read ‘Sports Illustrated’ all the way through. I would read all the articles. I wouldn’t just look at the photos. And I would rent out books, too, at the library in downtown Akron. I would read basketball encyclopedia books, just trying to learn the history.”
