Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has become famous for his incredible work ethic through his storied NBA career.
Despite that, questions arose last year amongst fans and analysts alike regarding James’ dedication during his first season with the Lakers.
Along with an apparent lack of effort on the defensive end of the court, some wondered if James was shifting his focus from the NBA to his many other business ventures.
So far this season, it appears that those concerns should be considered a thing of the past. Lakers head coach Frank Vogel recently spoke with reporters and applauded James’ commitment, especially on the defensive end of the ball.
“(LeBron is) working really hard … I couldn’t be more impressed with his commitment on that end and his intent to set a tone with our group, which it’s done,” said Vogel. “Everybody is buying into that end. In every film session, every player is coached hard and held to a high level of accountability. And he’s just been unbelievable with his commitment on that end.”
Through this first stretch of the 2019-20 campaign, the Lakers are the best defensive team in the NBA. Of course, much of that is thanks to big men Anthony Davis and Dwight Howard, who are currently averaging 3.0 and 2.1 blocks respectively. But James’ desire to serve as a defensive general on the court has been undeniable.
Up next, James and company will engage in a clash of early-season titans as the 6-2 Miami Heat come to Staples Center to take on the 6-1 Lakers.
With hard-nosed defender Jimmy Butler leading the charge in Miami, Friday night’s contest will offer a fantastic opportunity to see how James’ defense compares to one of the league’s best two-way players.
