Lakers’ LeBron James Relinquished His Throne When He Went to Miami, Says Ex-Vet

The NBA is officially back playing live scrimmage games on television for the first time since the season went on hiatus after it was announced that Utah Jazz Center, Rudy Gobert tested positive for the virus on March 11.
The Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers are scheduled to scrimmage each other on Thursday night. An event that Lakers point-forward LeBron James is excited for as he took to Instagram and posted picture with the caption, which read:
“Let’s Get It!! We back at it tonight. Can’t wait and it’s just a scrimmage. Not to me though. Championship mindset at all time!! #RevengeSeasonContinues #ThekidfromAKRON.”
LeBron James and the Dallas Mavericks have history dating back to the 2011 NBA Finals, when the Mavericks beat King James and the Miami Heat in six games. Dallas would go on to capture its first NBA Championship in franchise history.
Mavericks assistant coach Darrell Armstrong was on the sidelines and had a front row seat as the Mavericks captured its first championship. Armstrong was a recent guest on the ‘What’s Your Opinion Podcast,’ and was asked if there was any similarities to the Mavericks pushing James like the Pistons did Michael Jordan in the late 80s and early 90s.
“Naw don’t use MJ [Michael Jordan] with that, please don’t. LeBron [James] left his throne in Cleveland to join two all-stars. So, don’t push anything with MJ or the last dance. Don’t even push him with Kobe [Bryant],” said Armstrong.
However, Armstrong shared that he look at the following season after losing to the Mavericks like James former teammate Dwyane Wade looked at it.
“I looked at it like Dwyane Wade said it. T.I. uses ‘The King’ and when [you say you are] ‘The King’ you are ‘The King.’ He wasn’t ‘The King’ when he went down to Miami, he was just a superstar and it took Dwyane Wade the next year saying this is LeBron [James]’s team. Then he started coming out and being better as a leader and a superstar like has always been. You have to look at it he scored eight points in the NBA finals against us the year we won it. I don’t know when the last time LeBron James scored eight points in any game,” Armstrong shared.
“That what happen when you leave your throne and go somewhere else. If you are ‘The King’ always stays there and stay truth to his troops, that is what MJ did until him and a couple of the guys were pushed out. When MJ lost Conference Finals, he stayed right there and started to prepare for next year. That’s what you do you get better and find way to get better, and that’s what made the 90s and 80s games, so much funnier to watch.”
The Mavericks and Lakers game tips-off at 6:00 p.m. CST, on NBA TV.
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