NBA News Update: "You'd have to ask whoever voted" - LeBron James takes jibe at voting process after LA Lakers draw blank in regular-season awards
After conceding Game 3, the LA Lakers made a strong comeback in Game 4 against the injury-riddled Miami Heat, thanks to an inspired performance by LeBron James. The King finished with 28 points, and the LA Lakers will be expecting the same kind of performance from him in Game 5. With that said, let's check out the latest edition of NBA news update ahead of a pivotal fifth game in the finals.
NBA News Update: LeBron James reacts to Rob Pelinka not winning the 'Executive of the Year' award
The NBA recently announced the winner of the annual 'Executive of the Year' award. The trophy went to LA Clippers' Lawrence Frank, who did some stellar work in the offseason by landing the duo of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. LA Lakers' Rob Pelinka finished in seventh place.
While addressing the media, LeBron James was asked if he felt that LA Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka should have won the award. He was quoted saying:
"You'd have to ask whoever voted."
The reporters followed it up by asking LeBron James about his legacy in relation to awards. The former Cavaliers star stated:
"I don't think about it too much."
LeBron James has been critical of the NBA awards voting process, as he recently pointed out that he only received 16 first-place votes for the MVP award. The three-time NBA champion was involved in a neck-to-neck MVP race with Giannis Antetokounmpo, who ended up winning the trophy.
Miami Heat's Erik Spoelstra and Jimmy Butler speak to the media ahead of Game 5 against the LA Lakers
Ahead of a must-win Game 5 against the LA Lakers, Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra and star shooting guard Jimmy Butler took part in a media session. The Heat have faced an uphill battle in the finals, as they are without point guard Goran Dragic and didn't have Bam Adebayo in Games 2 and 3. When asked about the Heat being down 3-1 to the LA Lakers, Spoelstra said:
"There's a lot of narratives out there. We don't give an s**t what anybody says."
Jimmy Butler then took over and was asked about the occasion and the current circumstances by the media. Butler responded by saying:
"I need this all be for something because if it wasn’t I’m going to be really p****d off at the end of this thing."
The Miami Heat will take on the LA Lakers on Friday and will be hoping to extend the series and come back from a monumental deficit.
Also read: NBA Trade Rumors: Philadelphia 76ers planning to break up their star duo in order to acquire LaMelo Ball using Minnesota Timberwolves' no. 1 draft pick