LeBron James played in the famous Drew League for the first time since 2011 and, together with his teammate DeMar DeRozan, caused a spectacle. Kyrie Irving was also supposed to appear, but could be seen elsewhere.
James didn’t hold back on Saturday, taking a total of 36 shots, hitting 18 of which (only 2/13 3P) for 42 points. He also racked up 16 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 assists to help the MMV Cheaters comeback against the Black Pearl Elite in the fourth quarter. “I’m 100 percent healthy,” James clarified ESPN to know. DeRozan, a Drew League fixture, had invited LeBron to his team and himself contributed 30 points at 9/23 FG and 14 rebounds.
With 4.5 seconds to play, James was fouled and went to the free-throw line with a chance to increase his team’s lead to 105-102. He hit the first shot, then his opponent Mike Nwabuzor said “Hey, I need a miss from you,” as the professional at North Macedonian club KK TFT Skopje later revealed. “And he really missed the free-throw,” continued Nwabuzor: “That was probably the best moment, but the whole game was fun. Great competition, it’s outstanding to be on the floor with him.”
South Korea’s Black Pearl Elite’s Ethan Alvano then placed Downtown’s potential game winner in the front of the ring, and James threw his fist in the air in triumph. “It was a lifelong dream of mine to play against or with LeBron James,” Alvano said enthusiastically despite the missed opportunity: “I grew up watching him play, having him as my role model. It was an honor to a blessing to share the floor with him.”
James’ appearance near Compton, Calif. was his first with the Drew League since 2011, during the NBA lockout. “It was a surprise back then,” recalled league commissioner Dino Smiley: “Baron Davis had brought him to watch, then he saw the many spectators and immediately wanted a jersey.”
NBA News: Kyrie Irving missing from Drew League
Smiley also revealed that at the start of the day he was expecting Irving to perform at the Drew League on Saturday. However, things turned out differently. Irving was instead seen at a kids’ basketball camp led by Lakers assistant coach Phil Handy. Handy and Irving know each other from their time together with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
There he apparently impressed those present with his way of teaching the children something. “He really went into detail, that was great. I haven’t seen many interact with the kids like that,” quoted Brandon Robinson (Bally Sports) an eyewitness. Another said: “He really got into the subject, that was great. He didn’t put his feet up but really helped the kids.”
Irving could also be late in fulfilling his supposed Drew League promise. “We have six games left tomorrow so we’ll see,” Smiley replied when asked if Irving would still play in the Drew League on Sunday. However, he did not seem sure: “I thought for sure that he would play today, but I don’t know what happened then.”
