LeBron James greets Colorado stars Shaddell Sanders and Travis Hunter after Nuggets game

Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

The start of the 2023-24 NBA season didn’t go the way the Los Angeles Lakers wanted, as they lost to the Denver Nuggets on opening night.

The playbook felt like it was ripped off directly from the Western Conference Finals, with the Lakers trailing by double digits, rallying to tie the game within a few possessions, then falling behind again after the Nuggets responded with a run. Los Angeles couldn’t get over it all night, and Austin Reeves couldn’t help but tip his hat to Denver.

The bright side is that LeBron James is no longer bothered by the foot injury he suffered last season as he has his normal burst and explosiveness on the court. James had a few old-school drives to the rim, but he had to finish through contact, which was an encouraging sign for a Lakers team that has needed him throughout the regular season.

As is customary for opening night, several big names were in attendance, with Colorado State stars Shaddell Sanders and Travis Hunter also watching the game up close.After the game, Sanders and Hunter got a chance to see James on the court, which seemed like a special moment for the young college athletes, via Bleacher Report:

see more
https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1717024435084153232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Sanders and Hunter smiled happily after slapping the King, which makes sense after they previously compared themselves to LeBron and Dwyane Wade:

see more
https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1716968121716592816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

After a hot start to the college football season, Colorado has slowed down in recent weeks, but Sanders and Hunter remain two of the sport’s brightest stars. James is a huge football fan and has been following Colorado’s games this season, although this time he’s the one performing for the Buffaloes.

Although it was a loss, Los Angeles took some positives from the game and hopefully they can use them to get their first win in Thursday’s home opener against the Phoenix Suns.

Shaquille O’Neal says Deion Sanders reminds him of Phil Jackson

Deion Sanders is the talk of the sports world as he leads Colorado to a 3-0 start. Sanders brings a certain appeal and credibility to the program, and Shaquille O’Neal said the Buffalo head coach reminds him of Phil Jackson.

Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage of events, attend live shows, and more!