Lakers star LeBron James still struggling to adjust to playing without fans – USA TODAY

The Lakers 2-4 record during the season reboot has little to do with James. It has more to do with the disparity of Anthony Davis, who had only eight points on 3-of-14 shooting versus Indiana. It has more to do with the Lakers playing with varying rotations. It has more to do with the Lakers having fun with blended effort because they clinched the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.
Still, James confessed he feels uncomfortable with the deafening silence.
” Im getting more and more comfortable playing in an empty health club,” James said. “Just having the background here is a lot different from playing in a high school fitness center or a college arena where youre playing in the summer time, whatever the case might be.
James maintained that has not compromised his enthusiasm for the task. It just requires a psychological adjustment he has never ever experienced throughout his 17-year career.
” As far as the love of the video game, it does not matter who remains in the stands. It does not matter whats going on,” James stated. “My love of the video game? It ends up being a sanctuary as soon as I step on the floor. So Im able to secure when that ball is tipped up. I absolutely miss our fans being at Staples Center, and likewise going against the fans that boo me.”
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LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.– Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has actually not revealed issue yet with the groups losing. He expressed more frustration on spending the past 3 weeks playing NBA video games in fitness centers here with no fans.
” I am getting increasingly more used to being out there. Its an extremely odd dynamic. I havent played in an empty health club in a very, long time,” James stated following the Lakers 116-111 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Saturday. “Its been an extremely long time considering that nobody has actually been viewing me play the video game. Im just trying to discover that rhythm and lock in.”
So long that the 35-year-old James believes he has not played in an empty fitness center since before starring his freshman year at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in 1999-2000. When the Cleveland Cavaliers selected him No. 1 in the 2003 draft, James quickly then became a prep phenom prior to jumping straight to the NBA. Therefore, James recalled, “I do not believe I played in an empty fitness center for a video game that actually counted.”
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” I certainly love playing in front of the fans. The fans are what make the game,” James said. “Without the fans, I wouldnt be who I am today. To all the fans out there that come view me play, I miss you guys and hopefully someday I can get back to that interaction.”
That partly explains why James at first discounted the NBA thinking about to host video games behind closed doors when the coronavirus break out emerged in the United States. He maintained “I aint playing” any games behind closed doors. 4 days later on, James clarified his position after saying he ended up being more conscious the NBA had seriously considered this idea out of safety issues regarding COVID-19.
The topic ended up being a moot point. A day prior to the Golden State Warriors planned to host a game in San Francisco without any fans, the NBA stopped the season when Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert was diagnosed with COVID-19. Almost four months later, the NBA resumed the season on a Disney campus that has needed everyone to remain on site, get evaluated daily and comply with mask-wearing and social-distancing guidelines.
” The fans are missed,” James said. “I hope that sooner or later the pandemic and COVID can get under wraps, and we can take all the preventative measures thats needed and get it figured out in America where we can get our fans back into our arenas and arenas and things of that nature. Its big for sports.”
Despite James confessed discomfort with playing without fans, the new setup has not seriously impacted his play. After taping 13 turnovers in the Lakers first 3 games, he has actually since devoted just one.

I havent played in an empty fitness center in a really, very long time,” James said following the Lakers 116-111 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Saturday. Long that the 35-year-old James thinks he has not played in an empty gym since prior to starring his freshman year at St. Vincent-St. James recalled, “I do not think I played in an empty gym for a video game that truly counted.”
In spite of James admitted discomfort with playing without fans, the brand-new setup has not seriously impacted his play.” Im getting more and more comfy playing in an empty gym,” James said.