Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James (right) checks on Luka Doncic after he is hit in the face during a home game against the Utah Jazz last week. USA TODAY SPORTS/REUTERS
LeBron James is energized to play alongside new Lakers teammate Luka Doncic, while in Oklahoma City, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hopes an NBA title will secure his place among the league's legends as the regular-season homestretch begins.
The NBA returns from the All-Star break on Wednesday when the Los Angeles Lakers, led by James and Doncic, entertain Charlotte in a game postponed from January due to the California wildfires.
The Lakers, fifth in the Western Conference at 32-20, made a deal with Dallas on Feb 2, trading away forward Anthony Davis and others to obtain Slovenian guard Doncic, uniting the playmaker with 40-year-old legend James in the hope of making the Lakers a title contender.
"Just the excitement of being able to add a caliber player like that, a generational talent, to our franchise, it's something that has given me energy," James said.
"I'm looking forward to seeing what we can do. We only had two games so far, and I believe he has been on a minutes restriction since he came back from the calf (injury).
"As he continues to get in form, I think we could be really good going down the stretch, but we'll see what happens."
James missed the NBA All-Star Game while resting a foot and ankle injury ahead of facing Charlotte on Wednesday and visiting Portland on Thursday.
"With 30 games left, and us trying to make a playoff push in the wild, wild west, I feel like it's important for me to take care of myself and understand what's coming on," James said. "I have to look out for myself when it comes to this injury that I've been dealing with for years.
"Hopefully, I can play against Charlotte on Wednesday and Portland on Thursday. It's a big stretch for us."
Oklahoma City Thunder leads the West and shares the NBA's best record with the Cleveland Cavaliers, at 44-10.
In the East, the Cavs are 5.5 games ahead of reigning champion Boston, while the Thunder leads Memphis by eight in the West.
Gilgeous-Alexander leads the NBA with 32.5 points a game.
The 26-year-old Canadian guard also averages 6.1 assists, 5.1 rebounds, 1.9 steals and one blocked shot a game for a team trying to defend its regular-season conference crown.
"We have an opportunity to, for sure, win an NBA championship," he said. "Now we're going to have to earn it.
"You go in the playoffs, and you need to be the best team for a couple of months, and you're not that unless you earn it throughout the season and playoffs.
"We're more than halfway through the season, but it's a long road, and we've just got to keep getting better along the road, and hopefully we are where we want to be at the end of it."
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drives against Miami Heat guard Davion Mitchell during an NBA game in Oklahoma on Feb 12. AP
'For sure surreal'
Gilgeous-Alexander has accepted the growing attention brought by his exceptional play.
"I try to make sure I don't let it affect the person I am, the player I am and the teammate I am," he said.
"Doing so has helped me succeed on the court, and us succeed as a team, as well. Yeah, I definitely notice it, embrace it, and try to make sure it doesn't get in the way of things."
Gilgeous-Alexander says he knows he will not be mentioned alongside such contemporary greats as James, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry unless he leads an NBA championship team.
"You play the game to win, and that's, at the end of the day, all that really matters," he said. "If I don't succeed in that in my career, I will have never accomplished what I wanted to."
He accepts that he might have a chance to become the face of the NBA like James and Michael Jordan.
"That's literally for the world to decide, and whoever the world gravitates to is going to become it naturally," he said.
"It's not really like a title, it's more of an opinion, but it is something that is, for sure, surreal.
"If you're in that conversation, you will probably go down in history, and to be in that conversation is a blessing."
AFP
