FILE – Kyrie Irving #2 and LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrate after a play in the first quarter against the Golden State Warriors in Game 4 of the 2017 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 9, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. Gregory Shamus/Getty Images/AFP
Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James said Monday that his focus has shifted since he initially felt “disappointed” that his team did not acquire former teammate Kyrie Irving in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets over the weekend.
Irving, a veteran guard who had a rocky tenure with the Nets, wound up going to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. The Nets received guard Spencer Dinwiddie, forward Dorian Finney-Smith, a 2029 unprotected first-round draft pick, a second-round choices in 2027 and 2029. The Mavericks also received forward Markieff Morris in the trade.
During an interview Monday with ESPN’s Michael Wilbon, James said, “I can’t sit here and say I’m not disappointed on not being able to land such a talent, but (also) someone that I had great chemistry with, and know I got great chemistry with on the floor, that can help you win championships, in my mind, in my eyes. But my focus is shifted now. My focus is shifted back to where it should be, and that’s this club now and what we have in the locker room.”
James, 38, is a four-time NBA champion. One of those titles came with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 with Irving as a teammate.
This season, the Lakers (25-29) are struggling in their bid for a playoff spot. They entered Monday 13th of 15 teams the Western Conference standings.
Irving, 30, is averaging 27.1 points, 5.3 assists and 5.1 rebounds in 40 games this season. Dallas (28-26) held the No. 6 spot in the conference playoff race entering its game at the Utah Jazz on Monday night.