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Lakers vs Nuggets Preview: Will LeBron James show the 'killer mentality' Denver coach Mike Malone spoke of?

The Nuggets coach has seen LeBron up close when he was part of the Cavs outfit and this is an opportunity for the Lakers star to show that 'killer mindset'
PUBLISHED SEP 18, 2020
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Earlier this year, Denver Nuggets coach, Mike Malone opined that Los Angeles Lakers star, LeBron James "did not have the same mindset or killer mentality that Michael Jordan is supposed to have had." Of course, the former Cavaliers coach didn't mean any disrespect to James, who was in the same team when Malone was part of the Cavs coaching outfit. This was a comparison between two great legends and he did go on to say James was "arguably" one of the greatest as well.

Simply put, times have changed. The duo once worked together and that time James was 22; now the star player is pushing 35, and with a formidable Lakers side at his disposal, he is gunning for a fourth NBA Championship. Perhaps it was fate's idea to see Malone and James again — and this time pitted against each other. One hopes for his Nuggets to pull off an upset, and they just might. After all, they sent one Los Angeles team home. The other now take on an unpredictable side that's wowed the world.

There was that anticipated build-up that James & Co were thinking of a playoff series with the Clippers, but the Nuggets quashed all that by reaching the conference finals for the first time since 2009 and prepping to square-off against the Lakers. While the latter are now hot favorites, the Nuggets can in no way be dubbed underdogs, and that's where Malone comes in. The Nuggets are a relatively young side and having Malone by their side gives them an advantage— he's seen James when he was a young gun.

Malone comes with a decorated coaching history. He forayed into the NBAverse in 2001 as the coaching associate with the New York Knicks, and then went on to become their assistant coach. The next move was as an assistant coach for the Cavaliers from 2005 to 2010. During his stint, Malone helped coach the team to five consecutive playoff appearances, including the 2007 NBA Finals. He then went on to work with the Golden State Warriors, the Sacramento Kings, and eventually landing up as the coach of the Nuggets.

For LeBron and his Lakers, this has all been about honoring the late Kobe Bryant known for his 'Mamba mentality' (Getty Images)

While James's journey to stardom has been well-documented, it's this matchup that will add more excitement to the series. Now, James may not have the mindset Malone spoke of, but he does have the idea of what it feels to "actually feel nothing, but get in the zone," as he explained earlier in the 'Greatness Code', the Apple TV+ sports snippet-style docuseries. Well, surely we know how that ended, so Malone just might see something new.

Like we said before, times have changed. Just like Malone, James knows the man who was then an assistant coach of the Cavaliers. This brings again to what Malone told reporters earlier this year in his comparison. "Michael Jordan was not just a great player. He would reach into your chest and pull your heart out if he had to win a game," Malone explained. "You don’t see that really often. He had that killer mindset and brought it every single night. That’s why all of these many years later, he’s the greatest of all time."

Emphasis on the words, killer mindset" and "killer mentality." Well, they're pretty much the same by meaning, but for James and his Lakers, this has all been about honoring the late Kobe Bryant known for his "Mamba mentality." They have made no secret of the fact that this would all be for Bryant and they would give it their all at the court. James and Anthony Davis are the ones to watch for as they have been in scintillating form. Proof comes in the form of pipping the micro-ball Houston Rockets.

Malone vs James is definitely not the sole talking point, but it's definitely something coming under consideration. It's not that they have bad blood, we're sure hoping to see a fist bump or two, looking at the relationship they share, but at the same time, the mentality topic will probably be at the back of James's mind as his Lakers take on dynamites Denver. And perhaps, the way this series unfolds will show us LeBron's "killer mentality."

Quick notes on the series:

Game 1 Date and Time: September 18, Friday, 9 pm ET

Where: AdventHealth ArenaOrlando, FL

Where to watch: TNT | Radio: ESPN LA 710/KWKW (S)

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