The Los Angeles Lakers entered the NBA with the third-best 3-point percentage on Friday and were hot from the outside again in their 112-95 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, hitting 15 3s at Staples Center.
LeBron James was responsible for two of them, which are 2-for-6 from deep down, which resulted in his season percentage ever dropping so slightly to 38.2% – making it the second best three-point shooting season of his 18 year would be. career he would sustain it.
Earlier this week, Lakers coach Frank Vogel said James was “probably the best shooter on our team”, raising the question: Does James agree with his coach?
“I mean, we have a lot of good shooters in the team, man,” James said. “KCP [Kentavious Caldwell-Pope], a great shooter. West Matthews, great shooter. Kuz [Kyle Kuzma] can shoot the hell out of the ball. Dennis the threat [Dennis Schroder] the ball can shoot. AD [Anthony Davis] the ball can shoot. So we got some really good shot puters.
“Obviously if someone says ‘Bet’, then you know, I’m going to take myself. It’s just the competitive nature of me and the work ethic I put in my lap. But I feel really good about myself now. , both from the release line and also from the 3-point line, and I want to continue that. ‘
Davis, who raised his three-point shooter from 33% in his first season in LA to 39.4% in the Pelicans game, put James a little lower.
“I will have to say Kenny is always our man for whom we are always looking for shots,” Davis said, referring to Caldwell-Pope. “West is still struggling to find his solid try. He got open looks, but I still put West up there. I put Bron third, just because of this year he was able to shoot the ball very well. Marc [Gasol] can shoot it. Marc is up there. And then I sat myself down. Dudz [Jared Dudley]. AC [Alex Caruso]. “
For those who score at home, it’s nine different three-point shooters being chopped down by the Lakers’ captains – and that doesn’t even include guys like Quinn Cook and Markieff Morris, who live outside the arc when they’re on the court.
Caldwell-Pope, who shot 4-for-6 on Friday and moved past Metta World Peace for ninth place on the Lakers’ everyday 3-point franchise list, was not ready to crown James as the team’s 3- not. point shoots king as long as he is involved.
“The numbers are not lying,” he said, referring to the best career-best 55.3% he’s shot so far this season from three. “But I really enjoy LeBron shooting the ball. He shoots it at a great cut. He hits them down and it’s nice to see how he did. [success] also shoots the ball. But we all know, I’m definitely the real shooter. ‘
He may have a legitimate claim there, but, as Davis pointed out, everyone also knows that James gets certain privileges that Caldwell-Pope will never see.
“You know LeBron is always going to be there because he shoots a bunch of them, especially when he gets hot, and he starts shooting and stuff like that,” Davis said. “I do not think Coach will allow Kenny to do that.”