LeBron James Shrugs Off Rockets’ “Better Team” Claim After Lakers’ Game 5 Defeat
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LOS ANGELES — LeBron James showed little interest in Houston’s post-game bravado after the Los Angeles Lakers fell 99-93 to the Rockets in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on April 29, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena.
Houston forward Jabari Smith Jr. had declared the Rockets “obviously the better team” following their Game 4 victory. Asked about that comment after the Game 5 setback, James, 41, dismissed the notion.
“I don’t care about that, bro,” James said. “The game is won between the four lines. I don’t give a damn. Who cares? Why would you say we’re not the better team? Ask one of the young guys that question; I’m too old for that.”
The Lakers entered the series as underdogs without their two top scorers but raced to a 3-0 lead. Houston has responded with back-to-back wins, sending the matchup to a Game 6 on the Rockets’ home floor. A loss there would force a decisive Game 7 in Los Angeles and put the Lakers at risk of becoming the first NBA team to squander a 3-0 postseason advantage.
James acknowledged offensive issues plagued Los Angeles in Game 5 and said the team must “get back to the drawing board” before Friday’s contest in Houston.
Source: Lakers Nation
