LeBron James said on Mar. 25 that the Los Angeles Lakers showed strong mental toughness during their recent nine-game winning streak, despite a loss to the Detroit Pistons that ended the run.
The Lakers’ performance during this stretch is seen as an indication that they can compete with top teams and remain contenders in the upcoming postseason. James addressed what he believes has changed for the team, saying, “Just our mental toughness. There were a couple games where we got down; a couple games that we got up; teams made a run, took leads and we were able to stay resilient and come back. So we’re a tough-minded [group]. Even with tonight, we got down again versus a very good team on their home floor. Obviously they had probably been waiting on this matchup.”
During the game against Detroit, Los Angeles trailed by as many as 16 points in the third quarter but managed to cut the deficit to two points entering the fourth and even briefly took the lead in the final minute before ultimately falling short. The team also showed resilience in previous wins over Orlando Magic and Denver Nuggets by overcoming late deficits, as well as battling back from double-digit gaps against Miami Heat while playing on consecutive nights.
James also praised Austin Reaves for his development into an All-Star level player since joining Los Angeles. James has been teammates with Reaves throughout his career and recently shared what stood out about him when he first entered the league.
With star players like James and Luka Doncic leading them, observers see these qualities of resilience and fight making Los Angeles a dangerous opponent heading into playoff season.
