LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida – As consequential as the Lakers’ next playoff series against the Trail Blazers may seem, the stakes cannot be compared to the life-or-death circumstances in which LA’s LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony of Portland during a Bahamas Vacation.
James, Anthony, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Paul – fondly known as the banana boat crew – were on a summer excursion with their families years ago when an ocean boat trip went wrong.
After several of the All-Stars jumped into the water to explore a cave and observe marine life, Anthony was missing when the group returned to the boat.
“I just knew he wasn’t back on the boat with the rest of us, so I went out looking for him,” James said in a video conference on Monday. “And through God’s grace and strength and not being afraid of the water, I was able to help him get back on the boat. It was the only thing I had in mind at that moment and in that moment, was to have my brother back. to the boat. “
Anthony, who will face James and the Lakers in the first game of their Western Conference playoff series on Tuesday, originally shared the story of being saved in a live Instagram video with Wade and Wade’s wife Gabrielle Union in March.
“I look up, the current is carrying me into the middle of the ocean,” Anthony said. “Like, in front of the boat.”
“We couldn’t see you!” Wade intervened.
“And it was windy,” Anthony said. “All kind of shit was going on in my head, I’ll be honest with you.”
Anthony fixed his gaze on the boat and saw James running for it. Anthony said James’s jump from the boat reminded him of the 1980s TV personality MacGyver. Wade said it was more like James’ old Nike ad, The LeBrons, where “Business LeBron” jumps out of the plunge.
Anthony admitted he didn’t know what would have happened if it weren’t for James’ help.
“He saved my life,” he told Wade on Instagram. “Yo, Bron, I appreciate that. You saved my life that day. Those little fins weren’t working for me.”
“I don’t know, it’s a blessing, honestly,” James said when asked how dangerous Anthony really was before the rescue. “I don’t really know what to say to be honest. I’m just glad he’s still here, of course.”
James and Anthony, who entered the league together in the announced 2003 NBA draft, will face off in the postseason for the second time in their 17-year career. James’s Miami Heat beat Anthony’s New York Knicks 4-1 in the first round in 2012.
It’s been two years since James last appeared in the postseason and seven years since the Lakers franchise came out. After securing the seed no. 1 in the West, LA reward is playing a hot team of Blazers who earned the No. 8 with a 7-2 record on the bubble. All matches will be played on a neutral site, nullifying the home field advantage resulting from being the highest seed.
“Probably the hardest,” James said of his post-season outlook. “For me personally it is the most difficult championship. From the circumstances in which I have been here.”
Circumstances may be better than getting lost at sea, but James has detailed the challenges.
“What’s different for me in this environment? As far as hooking an opponent and individuals is concerned, that hasn’t changed. What’s different is this is the environment, not the house,” he said. “Not with my family, not in my bed, I’m not in our practical facility. I’m not preparing to be at Staples [Center] tomorrow with our fans. I don’t have many essentials for my daily regimen. So that’s what’s different. “
Lakers training looked a little different on Monday with Rajon Rondo back on the pitch with the team for the first time since he underwent surgery to repair a fractured right thumb nearly five weeks ago.
Lakers manager Frank Vogel said the veteran point guard is medically cleared to play but is “unlikely” to be looking forward to court on Tuesday.
“We’ll see how he responds to his work today,” Vogel said. “I still don’t know if he will be active … this is the first time he’s been playing basketball with someone other than himself for a few weeks now, or since his hand injury … We’ll take care of it. Day by day, see how he continues to progress with his conditioning, rhythm and timing and how his hand is responding to the added work. “
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