Lakers News: Former LA Teammate Weighs Pros And Cons Of Playing With LeBron James

Swingman JR Smith, who won titles alongside LeBron James playing as both a valuable starter with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 and as a late-season fringe bench guy with your Los Angeles Lakers in 2020, reflected on his overall LeBron James experience in an extensive conversation with Bomani Jones on the latter's Game Theory podcast.

"He missed a free throw too. Don't just look at me because I missed a open shot. We all missin' out here!"

J.R. Smith (@TheRealJRSmith) on the pressure of playing with LeBron James. pic.twitter.com/lhBj896YqA
— Game Theory with Bomani Jones (@GameTheoryHBO) March 7, 2023

"Honestly, it's a gift and a curse playing with 'Bron. I love 'Bron to death, and I love playing on his team because, for me, I feel like I thrive more under the pressure," Smith said. "But a lot of guys don't like it because it can go one of two ways.

"It's either, what did you not do to help him win, and who else did not help him win. It's like, bro, don't get me wrong—yes, he had 40-15-9 or 8—but he missed a free throw, too."

"And I think for a lot of guys, it's hard to — especially with the day and age we in, social media… we got analysts running around talking crazy. And you playing on that team and I think they're [the Lakers] what, 12th or 13th? And they are still the most talked-about team on TV. "So, it's always going to be that supporting cast of who's not doing what… if you're not built for that, you're not made for that, it's going to eat you alive."

The now-ninth-seeded Lakers are the most talked-about team on TV in part because they're the Lakers, but certainly the fact that they have one of the best players in the history of the game on the roster still playing at an All-Star level helps, too.

James is currently sidelined with a right foot tendon injury. He will miss at least the next two weeks before being reevaluated.

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