Deandre Ayton Had ‘Enjoyable Truth’ for LeBron James, and It Is Positive to Make Him Really feel Outdated

During the second quarter of Tuesday‘s Lakers win over the Jazz—LeBron James‘s season debut after a bout with sciatica—James, after establishing position in the post with the ball, tossed up a lob pass to big man Deandre Ayton, who jammed the ball home for the dunk. It was the first time that James and Ayton had connected for an alley-oop in their basketball careers.

Or was it?

According to Ayton, it was, in fact, the second time the two have linked up for an alley-oop.

“I was just telling him a fun fact,” Ayton told reporters after the Lakers‘s 140-126 victory. “He threw me an alley-oop, I said, ‘That‘s my second alley-oop from you. First one was when I was in eighth grade at your camp.’ “

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“He laughed and he was asking me where was it,” Ayton continued. “And I was telling him it was a LeBron James Camp in Los Angeles—See I remember the play and everything. You know, he was court hopping and playing with the campers and I remember the one play, he did a drill with me and threw the alley-oop and I finished it. I couldn’t believe he threw it.

“And now right here I’m once more. I can not imagine he threw the lob.”

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Aside from a truly awesome full-circle career moment for Ayton, the tidbit was also surely one guaranteed to make James, who is 40 years old and has been playing in the NBA for over two decades, feel old.

James spoke about how much “enjoyable” he was having out on the court. And it’s not hard to see why, as James logged 12 assists in 30 minutes. When asked about his connections with forward Jake LaRavia and Ayton, James explained that he used his time away from the court constructively.

“I can slot in with anyone,” James said. “I do not even perceive why that was even a query. What‘s fallacious with these individuals out right here? I might slot in with anyone. So, simply watching the fellows the primary 14 video games and seeing, I used to be placing myself in place, whereas I used to be watching the video games, of how I can assist the group and the way I may very well be profitable to assist these guys.”

James completed with 11 factors, 12 assists, three rebounds and a steal.

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