PORTLAND, Ore. — LeBron James launched his Lakers tenure with bookend plays that functioned like a State of the Union address: two early dunks brought gasps and cackles from an awed Moda Center crowd, while two late turnovers prompted pained expressions and post-game calls for patience.
Less than three minutes into his first game with L.A., a 128–119 road loss to Portland on Thursday, James picked off an inbounds pass and sprinted into transition. Within three or four steps, the four-time MVP had reached top gear, erasing any chance Portland had at blocking his path to the basket.