The Drew League has often served as a venue 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 returned to the scene. And boy was it worth the wait. James shined with 42 points and 16 rebounds in a dramatic victory alongside another top pro, DeMar DeRozan. The game almost went sideways in the final moments as James only went one-two at the foul line to give his team a lead of just two points in the final seconds, but they were eventually able to secure the comeback win after coming from behind. with six entering the fourth quarter. There were a number of highlights from James’ performance as he put on a show for the crowd in attendance. James wasn’t the only NBA superstar scheduled to appear at the Drew League on Saturday. Kyrie Irving was also expected to play in the opening game of the day. However, that game came and went without the Brooklyn Nets star. While it could still play in a later game, it has yet to arrive as of this writing. Check the opt-in box to confirm you want to join.
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James is reportedly pushing his Los Angeles Lakers to acquire Irving in a blockbuster deal for Russell Westbrook. Playing together in the Drew League would only add fuel to that fire, but even under the original plan, James and Irving weren’t scheduled to appear in the same game. Irving’s Nets are currently dealing with Kevin Durant’s trade request, and as such, his status is on hold until it 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 Summer League, which is played by rookies and other young players trying to make their mark. James and Irving are pretty level above that. We won’t be able to see them play in real games for several more months, so for now, seeing them in live action even against non-NBA players helps satisfy our offseason basketball cravings.
