NBA IN-SEASON TOURNAMENT

December 7, 2023

LeBron James

Anthony Davis

Los Angeles Lakers

Semifinal Postgame

Lakers 133, Pelicans 89

Q. You've been in more big games than most anybody, but just wonder mentally how you approach a game like this. You see some of the charges drawn and the focus, but what are the actual things that you're thinking about that you're trying to set an example for on the floor and how did it play out?

LEBRON JAMES: I think you just said it: trying to lead by example, make plays on the floor, be unselfish, try to make the right plays offensively, defensively, cover for my teammates and live with the results.

Q. It wasn't too long ago that you said to us that this team, this Lakers team, wasn't built so that you and Anthony had to shoulder all the load. But what can it be if you guys are playing the way you guys have been playing of late with this group? You're starting to get a glimpse of maybe what the next four or five months could look like for this team?

LEBRON JAMES: I think we're starting to figure it out. You know, you guys have been asking me over the last couple months, what do you think about the team and what do I think we can be. My answer was realistic: We don't know because we haven't had our team.

But we are starting to get healthy. We are starting to see what our team looks like. We know who we are going to be playing with out on the floor. Guys are feeling in a really good rhythm offensively and defensively. It definitely helps, being able to log minutes with different lineups and things of that nature, so that you kind of know what you're going to flow into offensively and you know what you're going to do defensively. It helps. It helps a lot.

Q. AD, you've been in the league for over a decade at this point. There's not many firsts that you're experiencing in your career. Now coming here to Las Vegas for the inaugural In-Season Tournament and playing in the championship, what does being in a new, a first situation, bring out of your game excite you and invigorate you?

ANTHONY DAVIS: Just the whole environment. Like you said, it's the first time any of us have been in this In-Season Tournament, especially the finals.

So I think that in itself is exciting for our ballclub. I guess on top of adding the incentives and things like that. But I think the excitement around it, the atmosphere, the energy, the competitiveness that it brings out of teams is going to be fun.

Q. Saturday is still ahead of you, but the typical rhythms of the NBA season don't necessarily allow for this type of intensity, this type of must-win basketball to be played. How do you think that's going to help this team big picture, having gone through this in the first quarter of the season?

LEBRON JAMES: I don't know. I mean, that's to be seen. I think we are starting to get a feel for who we need to become as a team in order for us to win basketball games and be consistent. We know that defensively we are starting to really, really tap into that, like, okay, we got to defend every single night. And when we defend, we are going to give ourselves a chance to win every night. I think when you got guys on a string, you've got guys communicating defensively, you might have a breakdown here but then you've got one of your teammates on the back line that is picking up for you, it brings a lot of good mojo to the team.

I think we hang our hats on our defense. Then offensively, we want to be low in turnovers and we want to share the ball. We've got 31 assists tonight. We have five turnovers in like the first five minutes of the game, and then we only had nine for the rest of the game. That's big time.

Q. For both of you, what are your early thoughts on the matchup with Indiana on Saturday?

ANTHONY DAVIS: They are a good ballclub. We were actually talking about maybe last week that they score a lot of points. A lot of 140s and things like that, 130s. Obviously, the head of the snake is Tyrese, with good role players around him who complement him very well.

They are young. They are scrappy. They get out and run, and they play the right way. So it's going to be a test for our defense, for sure. But it's going to be an exciting game.

Q. This one is also for both of you. You guys have had some of your most dominant performances as part of this tournament. What did you learn about this team that you did not know before the tournament?

LEBRON JAMES: That the funky courts does not bother us. (Laughter.)

Q. Adam Silver has come up with the bubble, the Play-In and the In-Season Tournament. Where do you think the In-Season Tournament ranks, and do you like putting your mark on these new things that Adam either has had to do or wanted to do?

LEBRON JAMES: Well, we've been successful with the first two. Where I rank it, the bubble is one, obviously. We won a championship. But we also had an opportunity to play in Play-In games. I think we've had two -- one against Golden State and one against Minnesota last year -- and we won both to give us a nod into the postseason. And this has been good so far as well to us, too.

We've got to finish our breakfast on Saturday. That's the most important thing. But like I said -- yeah, he's pretty good. Adam, like I said, what was that, yesterday, I said Adam is a genius. He does a great job, for sure.

Q. The one thing you had not experienced was playing in the NCAA Tournament. Does this feel like it approximates that experience?

LEBRON JAMES: It's funny, my trainer was like, "You know, one thing you haven't done in your 21-year career is be in the Final Four," before the game started today. I chuckled a little bit.

I played in my high school. I went to the state championship every year, all my four years. But once you start the postseason, it is win-or-go-home, and you can't lose or that's it.

I did have that experience, but this is definitely heightened, being NBA players and what's at stake and things of that nature. I guess you can say that.

Q. Looks like Bronny is going to play on Sunday. What would it mean to see him back out there?

LEBRON JAMES: Everything, and more. Looking forward to that, for sure. Super excited. Super excited for that moment. Just one, I can't wait to see him run out with his teammates. And then once he checks into the game, whenever that case may be, it's going to be a big moment for our family.

Obviously, it will be a big moment for him. But he can speak upon that once he decides he wants to talk. But it's a big milestone for our family, for sure, and it's another step for him on his journey in his basketball career. So, looking forward to it.