Bradley goes from rival to teammate
LA’s Bradley relishes shot toplaywith King James
After all that history, from Celtics/Miami to Celtics/ Cleveland in some of the most dramatic playoff scenarios imaginable, Avery Bradley, Rajon Rondo and LeBron James all have a lot to talk about now that they’re Lakers teammates.
“It’s different, man,” Bradley said before Monday night’s game against his original team. “Me, (James) and Rondo make jokes about the rivalries we had back in the day. Now I have an opportunity to play with one of the best players to ever play, if not the best. It’s fun, man. He makes the game a lot easier. I’m able to learn from him. He simplifies the game for everyone at both ends of the floor. It’s a great experience, not only playing with him but AD as well. It’s extremely fun.”
It’s also, to hear Bradley tell it, quite unexpected where joining his former Celtics teammate is concerned. Bradley came under Rondo’s tutelage as a Celtics rookie, and blossomed into one of the NBA’s premier defenders. Indeed, Rondo once cracked — not joked — after Danny
Ainge traded him to Dallas that he let Bradley do all of the defensive heavy lifting.
“That was my role, too,” said Bradley. “Rondo was such a focus in the offensive end for our team, my role was to guard the best guard every night. But we enjoyed it. We complimented each other very well.”
And of all things, they’re together again. Rondo was one of the first Lakers Bradley talked to before deciding to sign as a free agent last summer after finishing 201819 with Memphis.
“I didn’t,” Bradley said of whether he thought he would ever play with Rondo again. “It was crazy. Once the opportunity presented itself it was almost like a nobrainer, knowing I had the chance to play with him again. We both felt like we wanted the opportunity to play with each other again.
“There were some opportunities of some places longer term. But I felt this would be the best situation for me at this point in my career,” he said. “Get out of my comfort zone, get a chance to play with a team that had a chance to win a championship. That’s what this game is about, trying to win championships. Spoke to Rondo, spoke to a few guys on the team and I felt like this was going to be the best opportunity for me.”
And now he’s starting in one of the most celebrated lineups in the game.
“It’s been a blessing for me with the team they’ve been able to put together, and this opportunity,” said Bradley. “The players I’m blessed to play with this year, I feel like it’s a great opportunity, great situation, great atmosphere. Makes it simple as far as getting to certain spots on the floor and knowing they’ll make the right play. I feel like everyone is doing a great job accepting their roles and buying into team basketball.”
Playing Smart
Bradley laughed when informed that his once young teammate, Marcus Smart, set franchise records for made 3-pointers (11) and attempts during Saturday’s loss to Phoenix.
“First off I’m just happy for him with everything he’s been able to do,” said Bradley. “Very special player, special person, and he’s accepting his role. He’s continuing to get better, so it’s fun to see. That’s what this game is all about.”
Rest assured the Lakers gave him the proper respect at the 3-point line Monday night.
“He’s always been aggressive in taking them. He never really hit the high percentage but I, personally, have always felt that you have to run at him, try to run him off the line because he’s a threat even if his percentages weren’t always great,” said Lakers coach Frank Vogel. “He always had the ability to hit three or four in a game. I’m not a coach that likes to give guys dare shots. We want to try to guard everybody. The best shooters, the guys that don’t shoot a high percentage, for us the fact that he got hot last game doesn’t change a whole lot from just a standpoint that we have to get to him.”