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The Drew League has often served as a place for NBA players to hone their skills against strong competition in the offseason, but for the past decade the game’s biggest star has shunned it. LeBron James last played in the Drew League during the 2011 NBA lockout, but on Saturday, 11 years later, he made his grand return to the stage. And boy, was it worth the wait.
James shined with 42 points and 16 rebounds in a dramatic victory along with another top pro, DeMar DeRozan. In the final moments, the game almost went sideways as James went just one-for-two at the foul line to give his team a lead of just two points in the final seconds, but in the end they were able to secure the comeback win after falling behind by six. in the fourth quarter. There were a number of highlights from James’ performance as he put on a show for the packed audience.
James wasn’t the only NBA superstar scheduled to make an appearance at the Drew League on Saturday. Kyrie Irving was also expected to play in the first game of the day. However, that game came and went without the presence of the Brooklyn Nets star. While he may still play in a later game, he has yet to arrive as of this writing.
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James is reportedly pushing his Los Angeles Lakers to acquire Irving in a blockbuster trade for Russell Westbrook. Playing together in the Drew League would only add fuel to that fire, but even according to the original plan, James and Irving were not supposed to appear in the same game. Irving’s nets are currently dealing with Kevin Durant’s trade request and therefore his situation is on hold until that is resolved.
Seeing stars like James and Irving play in the Drew League is a rare offseason treat. For the most part, offseason basketball is contained within the Summer League, which is played by rookies and other young players trying to make their mark. James and Irving are several levels above that. We won’t be able to see them play in real games for a few more months, so for now, having them in a live game even against non-NBA players helps satisfy our offseason basketball cravings.
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