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LeBron James’ reverse 360 layup has gone viral.
CNN
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For NBA superstars like LeBron James, it’s the little moments on the court that define their greatness as much as any statistic, and when they happen, they often transcend the game they’re in and become all of their accomplishments symbol of.
James had one such moment during the Los Angeles Lakers’ 107-97 win over the Houston Rockets on Saturday, when he drove past the defense for an incredible 360-degree reverse layup before collapsing and losing the ball. right. .
But “the fans let me know I did it,” he later told reporters. “Then my teammates, by running around the field or whatever they were doing on the field, allowed me to see the game on the big screen because the game was stopped due to a technical issue.”
As the team celebrated wildly with the crowd, some even hanging their heads in disbelief, Christian Wood received a technical penalty for excitedly coming off the bench.
There was also a mixture of disbelief and awe on social media. One user called him an “artist,” while others described him as “unreal” or “crazy.” As of Sunday morning, the moment had racked up more than 1.2 million views on the NBA’s X (formerly Twitter) account alone.
As unbelievable as it is, there is a sense of normality. After all, even at almost 39 years old and in his 21st NBA season, LeBron is still LeBron, and his presence on the court can still change games and generate column inches.
Like a true great, he can change his image on the court through moments like this, showing that he is a LeBron idol, with all his glorious accomplishments, and a LeBron player.
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LeBron James handles the ball against Dillon Brooks of the Houston Rockets in the first quarter.
“That’s it, that’s what you expect from him,” coach Davon Hamm told reporters afterward. “But what’s most impressive is at what stage of his career he’s done it. “He seems to be breaking barriers every day. ”
James contributed 16 points and 7 assists, and Anthony Davis contributed 27 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Lakers to victory.
“It was a wild shot,” Davis said. “At this point in his career, he’s done everything and he’s really just going out and trying stuff and seeing what works.”
James was later involved in a tense confrontation with Rockets head coach Ime Udoka, who was subsequently ejected.