Is Laker Nation—and LeBron James—truly ready for the championship fight? The West is a war zone, getting deadlier by the day. If JJ Redick and the fans think it’ll be easy, they’re fooling themselves. The biggest threat? The Oklahoma City Thunder. And they’re coming in hot. While Shannon Sharpe stays confident about LA’s fate, Stephen A. Smith and Kendrick Perkins aren’t sold. The result? A full-blown showdown in ESPN’s studio.
Any conversation even remotely linked to LeBron James or the Los Angeles Lakers is sure to rile up Stephen A. At this point, such episodes of mockery and angry ranting don’t even surprise the fans. However, the verdict SAS and ‘Big Perk’ handed Shannon Sharpe feels like a bitter pill. Meanwhile, Stephen A. Smith mocked Sharpe, saying that the latter was hedging his bet.
Shannon, who claimed to have not seen LeBron working out, rhymes: “The Thunder, a Boost Mobile bundle, WWE Royal Rumble—Lakers in five.” Meanwhile, the former OKC Thunder star Kendrick Perkins sides with Smith and slams Shannon.
“You know damn well the Lakers don’t stand a damn chance against the Oklahoma City Thunder in a seven-game series,” Perk boldly stated. But Sharpe, who is a die-hard fan of the ‘Akron Hammer’ and the Lakers, said that he’ll take “GOAT James and Luka” and see how things roll out. Kendrick Perkins isn’t holding back. Serving reality on a platter, he sees the Thunder as a defensive nightmare for the Lakers.
“I’ve been a part of some great defensive teams… This squad? Arguably one of the greatest in NBA history.” They rank No. 1 in everything. Depth? Unmatched. Even without key players, they dominated Boston and Milwaukee.
Feb 7, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) defends against Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) in the second quarter at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
And last night vs. Milwaukee? “SGA controlled the whole game.” Moreover, Perkins’ biggest takeaway? “Did you see what Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren did? I called Chet Holmgren the white Kevin Garnett.” Therefore, he’s convinced—they’re a serious problem for the Purple and Gold. Stephen A. Smith had to chip in.
He added his opinions and backed them up with stats. To say the Lakers barely stand a chance vs. OKC Thunder might not be an exaggeration.
“Let me interrupt for a couple of things,” SAS fired at Shannon Sharpe. While LeBron James skipped pregame workouts, the Suns took an L, and that caught Shannon’s eye. But Stephen A. Smith had bigger facts to drop. “You asked about OKC’s NBA rankings in defense and hustle categories? Number one, Shannon.”
He listed them all—defensive efficiency, steals, turnovers forced—eight categories, eight first-place rankings. “One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. Number one in every single category, my brother.” Then came the knockout: “OKC is no joke. No joke at all. The team to beat in the Western Conference.” Now, the question is—can LeBron and the Lakers handle it?
Besides, Smith has a special wish for the 40-year-old NBA legend. It’s an interesting wish. Peculiar too. But well, imagine: LeBron James & Co. head to the finals and meet the Cleveland Cavaliers. Sounds intriguing?
Stephen A. Smith expresses his desire for LeBron James if the Lakers make it to the NBA Finals
In 2016, LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and others broke the Cleveland Cavaliers‘ curse and clinched their first championship under Ty Lue’s coaching. Most importantly, that win turned LeBron into Cleveland’s legend. After all, the homeboy ended their decades of drought. But now, he’s a Laker, and a rival, to say the least. So, moving from the Eastern to the Western Conference leaves one door open: winning the championship by fighting off against each other. That could be possible if the Lakers succeed in defeating the mighty forces of the West, especially OKC Thunder.
Meanwhile, Stephen A. Smith expressed: “I would wish for Cleveland vs. LeBron and the Lakers. With Cleveland and Donovan Mitchell, the crew going up against LeBron. LeBron having to go back to Cleveland to win a championship against that city, in the city with Cleveland having home-court advantage. Lord have mercy!”
Mar 6, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) against the New York Knicks during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
“LA would have a chance against Cleveland if that was a finals matchup. That would be epic, it would be special to watch,” Smith further added. At the same time, the ESPN veteran believes LA has no chance against the Celtics. Thus it seems like if the Cavs are on the other side, then the Lakers could win their 18th title, that is, if that’s possible.
The road to glory won’t be easy for the LA Lakers. OKC is a defensive wall, and Stephen A. and Perk see trouble. But if LeBron makes it, a Cavs-Lakers Finals would be legendary. The Celtics? A nightmare. The Cavs? A chance at No. 18. But first, LeBron must conquer the West.
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