The Los Angeles Lakers weren’t able to keep the momentum going.
They were supposed to celebrate LeBron James on the night he became the only player in NBA history to top the 40,000-point plateau.
Instead, they let a double-digit lead slip right through their fingers, and the Denver Nuggets beat them by 10.
That’s why Stephen A. Smith couldn’t take it anymore.
Following the loss, the controversial pundit put the team on blast again, ripping them for the fact that they cannot seem to be ready when the lights get bright (Via ClutchPoints and NBA on ESPN).
“I’m quite disgusted [in the Lakers]… The night Kobe [Bryant’s] statue was revealed, they lost. LeBron James passes 40,000 points, they lose that game… It seems like the big moments the Lakers don’t measure up to,” Smith said.
"I'm quite disgusted [in the Lakers]… The night Kobe [Bryant's] statue was revealed, they lost. LeBron James passes 40,000 points, they lose that game… It seems like the big moments the Lakers don't measure up to."
— Stephen A. Smith🗣️
(via @ESPNNBA)pic.twitter.com/aVKkVAxwCe
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) March 3, 2024
Smith reminded everyone that the Lakers lost in the season opener and at Kobe Bryant’s statue unveiling.
They also lost when James became the league’s all-time leading scorer.
Smith also criticized Anthony Davis for his inconsistency, stating that the Lakers cannot afford to have him score just 17 points when Nikola Jokic is in town and giving them 35 points.
He’s always been quite critical of Davis’ lack of intensity and consistency, calling him a superstar-caliber talent but calling him out for not showing up night in and night out.
This has become a usual trend for Darvin Ham’s team since he took the reins.
You never know what version of them you’re going to get.
And, in all honesty, they don’t seem to be a legitimate threat to actual championship contenders.
As of now, they seem like a second-round playoff exit at best, but it wouldn’t be shocking to see their season ending sooner than that.
NEXT: Lakers Highlight How Close LeBron James Is To Elite Record