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#Post#: 26--------------------------------------------------
LeBron James recounts his role in Carmelo Anthony ocean rescue
ahead of Lakers-Blazers series
DIR By: The Referee
Date: August 17, 2020, 8:39 pm
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Dave McMenamin
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- As consequential as the Lakers'
upcoming playoff series against the Trail Blazers might seem,
the stakes can't compare to the literal life-or-death
circumstances L.A.'s LeBron James and Portland's Carmelo Anthony
were in during a Bahamas vacation.
James, Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul -- affectionately
known as the banana boat crew -- were on a summer excursion with
their families years ago when a boat outing in the ocean went
awry.
After several of the All-Stars jumped in the water to explore a
grotto and scope out the marine life, Anthony was missing when
the group got back to the boat.
"I just knew that he was not back in the boat with the rest of
us, so I went out looking for him," James said Monday on a video
conference call. "And through the grace of God and through
strength and not being afraid of the water, I was able to help
him back to the boat. It was the only thing that was on my mind
at that point and time, was getting my brother back to the
boat."
Anthony, who will face James and the Lakers in Game 1 of their
Western Conference playoff series on Tuesday, originally shared
the story of being rescued in an Instagram Live video with Wade
and Wade's wife, Gabrielle Union, back in March.
"I look up, the current is taking me in the middle of the
ocean," Anthony said. "Like, opposite from the boat."
"We couldn't see you!" Wade interjected.
"And it was windy," Anthony said. "All type of s--- was going on
in my head, I'm going to be honest with you."
Anthony fixed his gaze on the boat and saw James rush to
retrieve him. Anthony said James' jump off the boat reminded him
of the 1980s TV character MacGyver. Wade said it was more like
James' old Nike ad, The LeBrons, where "Business LeBron" leaps
off the high dive.
Anthony admitted he doesn't know what would have happened if not
for James' help.
"He saved my life," he told Wade on Instagram. "Yo, Bron, I
appreciate it. You saved my life that day. Them little flippers
wasn't working for me."
"I don't know, it's a blessing, honestly," James said when asked
how much danger Anthony was really in. "I don't really know what
to say to be honest. I'm just happy he's still here, obviously."
James and Anthony, who came into the league together in the
heralded 2003 NBA draft, will face one another in the postseason
for just the second time in their 17-year careers. James' Miami
Heat beat Anthony's New York Knicks 4-1 in the first round in
2012.
It's been two years since James last appeared in the postseason
and seven years since the Lakers franchise has. After securing
the No. 1 seed in the West, L.A.'s reward is playing a hot
Blazers team that earned the No. 8 seed with a 7-2 record in the
bubble. All of the games will be played at a neutral site,
nullifying the home-court advantage that comes with being the
higher seed.
"Probably the toughest one," James said of his postseason
prospects. "It's the toughest championship run for me
personally. From the circumstances of just being in here."
The circumstances might be better than being lost at sea, but
James detailed the challenges.
"What's different for me in this environment? As far as me
locking in on an opponent and individuals, that hasn't changed.
What's different is this is the environment, not home," he said.
"Not with my family, not in my own bed, I'm not in our own
practice facility. I'm not preparing to be at Staples [Center]
tomorrow with our fans. I'm not with a lot of things that's
essential to my everyday regimen. So that's what's different."
The Lakers' practice looked a little different Monday with Rajon
Rondo back on the court with the team for the first time since
undergoing surgery to repair a fractured right thumb nearly five
weeks ago.
Lakers coach Frank Vogel said the veteran point guard is
medically cleared to play but is "unlikely" to see court time on
Tuesday.
"We're going to see how he responds to his work today," Vogel
said. "Don't know yet if he'll be active ... this is the first
time he's played basketball with anyone other than himself for a
few weeks now, or since the injury to his hand. ... We'll take
it day to day, see how he continues to progress with his
conditioning, rhythm and timing and how his hand is responding
to the added work."
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