Ric Flair knows what it's like to have his age scrutinized. Many fans considered the wrestling legend too old to be working in the ring when he was with WWE in the 2000s. That did not stop him, though, as he continued his craft in other companies and competed in what was officially billed as his last match in 2022.
Needless to say, Flair is not taking kindly to the notion that LeBron James is running out of gas. The NBA icon, along with Anthony Davis, led the Los Angeles Lakers to a pivotal 124-108 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday to cap off the 21st regular season of his career. He showed no signs of decline, dominating the home team with 28 points, 17 assists, 11 rebounds, five steals and one block.
Flair used the magnificent performance to roast an ESPN Radio host and New York Knicks studio analyst and broadcaster who compared James to an “old iPhone” that can never get back to being 100 percent charged after the Lakers were swept by the Denver Nuggets in the 2023 playoffs.
Actually, the word “roast” is putting it mildly. The Nature Boy completely attacked the man's credibility.
Ric Flair gets into promo mode as he disrespects Alan Hahn
“I’m Sorry To Report To You Alan Hahn That LeBron Recorded Another Triple Double A Year After You Called Him An Old Man,” Flair posted on X. “You Stupid SOB. It’s So Embarrassing To Have You Report About Sports. When I See You On ‘Get Up' or ‘First Take,' I Turn The TV Off. Triple Double. The Lakers March On! WOOOOO!”
Judging from his intensity, one would think that Ric Flair had just won the 1992 Royal Rumble all over again. It is truly astounding to see LeBron James play at an All-NBA level at 39 years old, as he averaged 25.7 points while shooting 54 percent from the field and a career-high 41 percent from 3-point land.
Anthony Davis' yearlong impact on the Lakers also deserves its just due, but what the four-time champion accomplished in one of the final years of his career is unlike anything the sport has ever known. That being said, the question Alan Hahn and others are wondering is if James can maintain this motor and effectiveness through the entire postseason.
Hahn, who previously worked as a Knicks beat reporter, might have miscalculated Father Time's arrival, but his larger point is not necessarily wrong. Despite still being a premium talent who can take over games, the laws of nature suggest that James is probably unable to regularly perform at his peak for another NBA Finals run. And contrary to the No. 8 that is written next to LA's name, that is the goal of this team.
No matter how much James defies logic, or Ric Flair pontificates, the same narrative holds true. The Lakers' supporting cast must consistently show up.
LeBron James, Lakers begin the gauntlet with NBA Play-In clash
Los Angeles' quest for an improbable championship starts on Tuesday when it battles the Pelicans in the NBA Play-In Tournament for the right to be the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. A blowout victory in the same arena just two days earlier is likely going to boost fans' confidence, but a banged-up Anthony Davis could pave the way for a far more competitive contest.
Regardless, head coach Darvin Ham needs a collective effort from his squad. If the supporting cast remains streaky, sustained excellence will be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to attain. That onus does not fall solely on Austin Reaves, D'Angelo Russell and Rui Hachimura, who have all enjoyed productive campaigns, but also on Taurean Prince, Jaxson Hayes and Spencer Dinwiddie.
While this roster is definitely capable of disrupting the hierarchy this postseason, these guys will need to do their respective jobs to make it happen. LeBron James will set the tone, however.
The odds were stacked against Ric Flair in the aforementioned 1992 Royal Rumble match when he entered at No. 3, but he went the distance and seized the WWF Championship. Although few people will call the man a role model, the Lakers would do well to emulate that type of {scripted} resilience in the coming days, and maybe weeks and months.
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