The Los Angeles Lakers' first-round series against the Houston Rockets did not end the way many neutrals expected. After spotting the Rockets two straight wins to flatten a 3-0 lead, the Lakers walked into Toyota Center for Game 6 and never let Houston into the contest, with LeBron James turning in a 28-7-8 line in a wire-to-wire close-out.
For Fox Sports' Nick Wright, who pinned his entire pre-series prediction on a single sentence — that LeBron simply would not permit the first-ever blown 3-0 lead — Game 6 was vindication, and he was happy to take it. On his What's Wright? podcast, the long-time LeBron defender disclosed that several athletes inside LeBron's professional orbit had quietly warned him he was overcommitted to the prediction.
"Last week when I kept saying there is simply no chance that LeBron allows what could be the final any playoff series LeBron plays could be the final playoff series of his career," Wright said. "And I said, 'There is simply no chance that LeBron allows what might be his final time in the playoffs to end with the first ever blown 3-0 lead.' And I really made it as simple as that. I gave no equivocation. I gave no but if it happens."
Wright admitted the messages he received in the days that followed were not encouraging.
"I had folks reach out to me — not folks close to LeBron, not like LeBron's people, but just athletes that are LeBron fans and colleagues — saying, 'Nick, I can't believe you are butchering this strategically. I can't believe you are setting yourself, and by proxy LeBron, up. If they were to do it, you are saying it's impossible. You are basically saying it would be a huge blemish on the resume. You are giving real ammo to the folks that, if the Lakers blow this, will use that to try to disqualify him from any GOAT discussions.'"
His response, he said, never wavered. "I don't care that I am, because it's impossible that it happens."
The line that has since gone viral, however, was Wright's framing of what Game 6 actually represented in the broader story of LeBron's career. James turned 41 in December, is in his 23rd professional season, and is now the only player in NBA history to play league games at that age, much less play this kind of basketball.
"That is the part that made Game 6 so fun to watch," Wright said. "It was a little reminder that even at age 41 in year 23, unless he is up against a truly great team, LeBron is still one of the only athletes in the world who can say not today. Maybe tomorrow, but not today."
Wright then catalogued LeBron's overall control of the contest — pointing out that James led both teams in scoring and assists in Game 6, with the Rockets held to 78 points, while functioning as a de facto defensive coordinator on the floor.
"He is right now by a mile leading all playoff players in memeable on-court moments," Wright said. "Whether it's telling Sengun everyone's allowed to complain about flopping but you not. Whether it's the moment with the kid. Whether it's the clip of right before he got the series-flipping steal and then three to tie it in Game 3 telling his teammates, 'Lock the [...] in. I'm locked in.'"
Wright closed with a line he conceded sounded "corny" but stood by. "You are watching the last moments of all-time greatness from the greatest athlete to ever live."
The Lakers now face the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder, who took Game 1 of the second-round series 108-90.
