"This NBA sh*t real deal lol": Anfernee Simons recalls LeBron James' emphatic Lakers debut
LeBron James forged a new path in his career by joining the LA Lakers on July 1, 2018, after 15 seasons in the Eastern Conference. The NBA legend debuted against Portland in that season. His first bucket was a steal and a dunk in transition. It was such a memorable moment that Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons looked back at it as his introduction to the league.
It was a sequence that was proceeded by a Damian Lillard blow-by against Rajon Rondo, resulting in a dunk at the other end. However, James immediately pushed the ball up the court for a quick crossover and penetration to the cup for another highlight dunk. It ended up in a Trail Blazers timeout.
Simons was the 24th pick in the NBA Draft. He wasn't called upon to suit up for the team's season opener but it was a rgame that left a strong impression on him. He wrote on his X profile:
"My first NBA games... I ain't dress out but I was watching this game and thinking this NBA s*** real deal lol."
Before reaching the professional league, aspiring athletes have to settle for watching NBA superstars on their television or from the stands. Being part of a team and seeing them run up and down the court varies differently from watching it as a fan.
Anfernee Simons played his first NBA game on Oct. 30, 2018, against the Rockets. However, he only played one minute and finished that outing scoreless. Simons finished his rookie year averaging 3.8 points on 44.4% shooting and dished 0.7 assists per game.
LeBron James' Lakers debut
There was incredible anticipation for LeBron James's debut with the Lakers. It was envisioned as the next phase of his illustrious NBA career with the expectation to bring another championship banner for the iconic purple and gold franchise.
James was also viewed as a mentor and guiding hand for the franchise's young players and hopefully an attraction for other star players to join the team.
During the Portland game, LeBron James dropped an impressive double-double stat line of 26 points and 12 rebounds. However, it wasn't enough to outlast the efforts of the Trail Blazers as they won 128-119.
After the loss, LeBron James urged the fanbase to remain patient. He also highlighted the team's potential to improve and learn from that experience. It was only a preview of what was yet to come but was more than enough to get fans excited for the future.
He followed up his first season with the team with a championship in the following year alongside All-Star forward Anthony Davis.