Udonis Haslem explains going at Jimmy Butler during a time out years ago:
“3rd yeah I did go at Jimmy. You damn right. The shit you pull in golden state and that shit he pulled in Chicago talking crazy to Hoiberg and disrespecting teammates in practice in Minnesota ain’t gon fly in the 305. So yeah. I checked his ass.
Call it heat culture or what ever you want but before I let one player disrespect Spo in front of the squad, cut his legs out and disrupt what 15 other guys tryin to get accomplished, I’ll kick his ass. I owe that to ZO and Tim and Glen and the rest of my OGs.”
An Anthony Davis trade to the Warriors is unlikely, per @WindhorstESPN
The Warriors have told Jimmy Butler they will not trade him, and the Wizards are not interested.
(h/t @WizardsMuse1 )
On February 21, 2019, LeBron James famously proclaimed he was flipping the switch and activating "Playoff Mode" to secure a postseason spot for the Los Angeles Lakers. Instead, the team completely spiraled, going just 3-12 down the stretch and missing the playoffs entirely.
This stretch ended with a final 37-45 regular-season record. It was a historic low point for LeBron, marking the first time since 2005 that he had missed the playoffs.
The very next season Anthony Davis joins the Lakers he immediately makes them Championship Contenders with his presence.
Davis immediately became the focal point of the Lakers' defense and co-captain of the offense. In 62 regular-season games, he averaged:
Points: 26.1 per game
Rebounds: 9.3 per game
Assists: 3.2 per game
Blocks: 2.3 per game
Shooting: 50.3% FG / 84.6% FT
His stellar play earned him an All-Star selection, an All-NBA First Team nod, and a second-place finish in the Defensive Player of the Year voting.
The Lakers secured the number one seed in the Western Conference with a 52-19 record before the season was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
When the season resumed in the Orlando bubble, Davis took his game to another level, providing legendary postseason moments:
The Game-Winner: He hit an iconic, buzzer-beating three-pointer in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals against the Denver Nuggets, famously shouting "Kobe!" after the shot.
Playoff Production: Over 21 playoff games, he elevated his scoring to 27.7 points per game on an incredibly efficient 57% shooting from the field and 38.3% from three.
The Title: Davis anchored the defense that shut down Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals, winning the series 4-2 to claim the 2020 NBA Championship.
Anthony Davis wasn't a side show. Without AD the Lakers would never have sniffed a Championship. It's time to put some respect on his name and acknowledge the Lakers don't win anything without him. LeBron James showed you that the prior season.