After the Los Angeles Lakers were handed their second double-digits defeat in as many nights on Tuesday against the Hawks in Atlanta, a dejected LeBron James gave an honest assessment of the team’s struggles.
The 39-year-old star said that, on their day, the Lakers could beat any side in the NBA, but they could just as easily lose badly to any team.
It is that lack of consistency that has NBA legend James Worthy concerned about his beloved Lakers – a team he spent his entire 12-season career with in the ‘80s and early 90’s, winning three championships along the way.
Since they won the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament back in December, it’s been one step forward and two steps back for the Lakers, whose record this campaign is just under 0.50 with 24 victories against 25 losses.
They scored an impressive overtime win over the Golden State Warriors on Saturday, which was a LeBron James v Steph Curry classic, but then went on to lose to the Houston Rockets and the Atlanta Hawks back to back a couple of days later.
“It's been really frustrating – the inability to win games when they should win,” Worthy told The National last weekend in the UAE capital, where he attended the Jr. NBA Abu Dhabi League Draft Ceremony.
“We've had some injuries. It's really made it tough for the coach to – I think we've had maybe 34 different starting lineups. But that's no excuse for building chemistry and building defence and things like that. So I'm a little bit concerned where they are. I know they have the potential.”
A lot of talk surrounding the Lakers at the moment is whether they’ll be making any big moves before the February 8 trade deadline but Worthy believes the current roster has what it takes to get the job done.
The 62-year-old is pleased with the form of D’Angelo Russell and Anthony Davis, alongside James, who scored a triple-double in the Lakers’ win over the Warriors during the weekend.
“I don't think whoever they bring in will make that much of a difference,” admitted Worthy.
“We have some really good players. (Austin) Reaves is a good player, DLo can score, AD and LeBron. So when we're maxed out and we're healthy, and we're playing defence, which is what they should be priding themselves on, I'm comfortable with what we have.
“I like the rotation they have right now. I like DLo and Reaves starting, with LeBron, AD, and maybe even Rui (Hachimura). I don't mind Rui starting, but if Rui’s not going to start, I’ll take (Jarred) Vanderbilt. He's a really good defensive player. But I do think they should stick with it, so they could get used to the minutes played, the guys coming off the bench have an understanding and just stick with that.
“We've had too many different lineups. When you have that, you don't understand each other's tendencies. You throw a [Max] Christie in there with your starting lineup, you have to play catch up.”
This season could very much be James's last with the Lakers, although retirement might not be in his immediate future as he expressed his desire to stick around until he can play with his son Bronny in the NBA.
“It could be [his last year with the Lakers]. Especially if we don’t enhance ourselves in the playoffs, I think this is the last year of his contract, he gets to opt out. So we'll see,” said Worthy of James. “Hopefully he'll end his career with us. I see him as a Laker ‘til the end.”
Through his work as a commentator and analyst, Worthy has kept a close eye on all the teams and he’s been particularly impressed by French rookie Victor Wembanyama, who despite the San Antonio Spurs’ woeful record, has managed to shine in his first season in the NBA.
The Spurs have the worst record in the Western Conference (0.213), and third-worst record in the league, but the 2.24-metre Wembanyama has been averaging 20.6 points and 10.1 rebounds per game.
“He’s a freak of nature. I love this kid,” said Worthy of the 20-year-old Wembanyama.
“The game has changed since I was playing. At 7’4” you were a center, inside. He plays like Steph Curry, which goes to show you how the league has grown and talent has grown. It won't be long before they (the Spurs) get the right players around him.
“I'd look for them to see what kind of moves they're going to make this year. They're going to get a nice draft pick. But if they can get maybe two veterans around him, they're not going to be waiting four, five years. He's ready now, he’s a really good player.”
During his time in Abu Dhabi, Worthy, alongside seven-time NBA All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge, took part in clinics with young kids from across the emirate.
The NBA and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi launched an expanded third season of the Jr. NBA Abu Dhabi League, which this year will reach more than 1,300 youngsters, aged 11-14, from schools across Abu Dhabi, and for the first time, Al Ain.
“I think the NBA has done a great job of building that global appearance for people to get involved with training and Jr. NBA, eventually, it'll grow and at some point you're going to see an NBA player from Abu Dhabi - without question,” said Worthy.
The game has indeed gone more global than ever before; a record 125 international players featured on opening-night rosters for this 2023-2024 campaign.
Three international players – Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo – have won the last five MVP awards and Worthy has a theory behind this growing trend.
“It's funny that the top 10 players in the NBA are European players, or from another country,” said Worthy.
“It comes down to how the game has grown globally. And how in the United States, the fundamentals and skill have gone away.
“Guys don't stay in college long enough. And that's where you get the skill work. They're talented, they're extremely talented. But you know, Kareem (Abdul-Jabbar) had four years with John Wooden. I had three years with Dean Smith. Michael Jordan had three years (in college). Austin Reaves, undrafted, four years of college. He's had those drills every day. That's why he is able to exceed past some of these younger players.
“So I think what's happening globally is they're picking up on fundamentals, the basics, teamwork, and that's why you're seeing such a flourish of European players.”
He also stressed that the United States will have to field their A-team if they plan on defending their Olympic gold medal in Paris this summer. The Americans finished fourth in the World Cup last year but have announced an impressive player pool for Olympics selection, which includes James, Curry, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and Jimmy Butler.
Worthy played alongside Michael Jordan in college and was a standout at University of North Carolina before getting picked up first overall by the Lakers in 1982. In Los Angeles, Worthy was part of the famous Showtime Lakers dynasty alongside the likes of Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. His ability to step up in the playoffs earned Worthy the nickname ‘Big Game James’ and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003.
Given he played with some of the greatest players to ever pick up a basketball, is there anyone from later generations Worthy would have loved to play alongside or against?
“I would have loved to play with Kobe. I would have loved to play against him,” responds Worthy.
“Because he has a mentality that brings out the best. He's an assassin, so he doesn't care. He doesn't care about you, he doesn't care about anything. I love playing against people like that. I would have loved to be a teammate of his. Probably wouldn’t have got as many shots as I wanted, but I definitely would have loved to play with Kobe.”
Reflecting on his playing days alongside Johnson and Abdul-Jabbar, Worthy said he had a special connection with both legends.
“Kareem was very quiet. He's very introverted. And so when I came to the Lakers, I liked jazz and he likes jazz. I also was finishing college, I had like 15 hours left to finish up, and Kareem was an Academic All American. He was a historian and he tutored me. So that was our connection, jazz and he tutored me. His play was amazing,” recalled Worthy.
“Magic’s will to win, I've never seen anybody like him. And I’ll say this until the day I'm dead, if I got to choose one player to start my team with, it’s going to be Magic. I don't care about scoring, I don’t care about anything – the will to win…
“Once I was in a shooting slump and I asked one of the ball boys to come in early and rebound for me. And Magic must have overheard that so we have a 10 o'clock practice, I show up at 9:00 to get some extra shots in and guess who's out there waiting to rebound for me and throw it back? Magic!
“Because he knew they needed me and he was very encouraging. So his will to win is… And then you see, he's a billionaire. You see what he's done off the court, that’s why.”
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BULKWHIZ PROFILE
Date started: February 2017
Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce
Size: 50 employees
Funding: approximately $6m
Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Three-day coronation
Royal purification
The entire coronation ceremony extends over three days from May 4-6, but Saturday is the one to watch. At the time of 10:09am the royal purification ceremony begins. Wearing a white robe, the king will enter a pavilion at the Grand Palace, where he will be doused in sacred water from five rivers and four ponds in Thailand. In the distant past water was collected from specific rivers in India, reflecting the influential blend of Hindu and Buddhist cosmology on the coronation. Hindu Brahmins and the country's most senior Buddhist monks will be present. Coronation practices can be traced back thousands of years to ancient India.
The crown
Not long after royal purification rites, the king proceeds to the Baisal Daksin Throne Hall where he receives sacred water from eight directions. Symbolically that means he has received legitimacy from all directions of the kingdom. He ascends the Bhadrapitha Throne, where in regal robes he sits under a Nine-Tiered Umbrella of State. Brahmins will hand the monarch the royal regalia, including a wooden sceptre inlaid with gold, a precious stone-encrusted sword believed to have been found in a lake in northern Cambodia, slippers, and a whisk made from yak's hair.
The Great Crown of Victory is the centrepiece. Tiered, gold and weighing 7.3 kilograms, it has a diamond from India at the top. Vajiralongkorn will personally place the crown on his own head and then issues his first royal command.
The audience
On Saturday afternoon, the newly-crowned king is set to grant a "grand audience" to members of the royal family, the privy council, the cabinet and senior officials. Two hours later the king will visit the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the most sacred space in Thailand, which on normal days is thronged with tourists. He then symbolically moves into the Royal Residence.
The procession
The main element of Sunday's ceremonies, streets across Bangkok's historic heart have been blocked off in preparation for this moment. The king will sit on a royal palanquin carried by soldiers dressed in colourful traditional garb. A 21-gun salute will start the procession. Some 200,000 people are expected to line the seven-kilometre route around the city.
Meet the people
On the last day of the ceremony Rama X will appear on the balcony of Suddhaisavarya Prasad Hall in the Grand Palace at 4:30pm "to receive the good wishes of the people". An hour later, diplomats will be given an audience at the Grand Palace. This is the only time during the ceremony that representatives of foreign governments will greet the king.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday (UAE kick-off times)
Borussia Dortmund v Paderborn (11.30pm)
Saturday
Bayer Leverkusen v SC Freiburg (6.30pm)
Werder Bremen v Schalke (6.30pm)
Union Berlin v Borussia Monchengladbach (6.30pm)
Eintracht Frankfurt v Wolfsburg (6.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldof v Bayern Munich (6.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Cologne (9.30pm)
Sunday
Augsburg v Hertha Berlin (6.30pm)
Hoffenheim v Mainz (9pm)
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
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Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
Roger Federer's 2018 record
Australian Open Champion
Rotterdam Champion
Indian Wells Runner-up
Miami Second round
Stuttgart Champion
Halle Runner-up
Wimbledon Quarter-finals
Cincinnati Runner-up
US Open Fourth round
Shanghai Semi-finals
Basel Champion
Paris Masters Semi-finals
RACE CARD
6.30pm: Baniyas Group 2 (PA) Dh 97,500 (Dirt) 1,400m.
7.05pm Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,200m
7.40pm Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,400m
8.15pm Handicap (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,400m
8.50pm Rated Conditions (TB) Dh 120,000 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm Handicap (TB) Dh 95,000 (D) 1,200m
10pm Handicap (TB) Dh 85,000 (D) 2,000m
Results
5pm: Al Falah – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,200m; Winner: Bshara, Richard Mullen (jockey), Salem Al Ketbi (trainer)
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: AF Musannef, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Al Dhafra – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: AF Mualami, Antonio Fresu, Abubakar Daud
6.30pm: Al Khaleej Al Arabi – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Hawafez, Adrie de Vries, Abubakar Daud
7pm: Al Mafraq – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: JAP Almahfuz, Royston Ffrench, Irfan Ellahi
7.30pm: Al Samha – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Celestial Spheres, Patrick Cosgrave, Ismail Mohammed
Palestine and Israel - live updates
Autumn international scores
Saturday, November 24
Italy 3-66 New Zealand
Scotland 14-9 Argentina
England 37-18 Australia
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Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
The biog
Favourite books: 'Ruth Bader Ginsburg: A Life' by Jane D. Mathews and ‘The Moment of Lift’ by Melinda Gates
Favourite travel destination: Greece, a blend of ancient history and captivating nature. It always has given me a sense of joy, endless possibilities, positive energy and wonderful people that make you feel at home.
Favourite pastime: travelling and experiencing different cultures across the globe.
Favourite quote: “In the future, there will be no female leaders. There will just be leaders” - Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook.
Favourite Movie: Mona Lisa Smile
Favourite Author: Kahlil Gibran
Favourite Artist: Meryl Streep
Biog
Age: 50
Known as the UAE’s strongest man
Favourite dish: “Everything and sea food”
Hobbies: Drawing, basketball and poetry
Favourite car: Any classic car
Favourite superhero: The Hulk original
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Points Classification
1. Marcel Kittel (Germany / Quick-Step) 63
2. Arnaud Demare (France / FDJ) 38
3. Andre Greipel (Germany / Lotto) 25
4. Sonny Colbrelli (Italy / Bahrain) 24
5. Mark Cavendish (Britain / Dimension Data) 22
6. Taylor Phinney (U.S. / Cannondale) 21
7. Geraint Thomas (Britain / Team Sky) 20
8. Thomas Boudat (France / Direct Energie) 20
9. Stefan Kueng (Switzerland / BMC Racing) 17
10. Michael Matthews (Australia / Sunweb) 17
THE BIO
Mr Al Qassimi is 37 and lives in Dubai
He is a keen drummer and loves gardening
His favourite way to unwind is spending time with his two children and cooking
Race card
5.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,400m
6.05pm: Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (T) 1,400m
6.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (T) 1,200m
7.50pm: Longines Stakes – Conditions (TB) Dh120,00 (D) 1,900m
8.25pm: Zabeel Trophy – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (T) 1,600m
9pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (T) 2,410m
9.35pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (T) 2,000m
If you go…
Emirates launched a new daily service to Mexico City this week, flying via Barcelona from Dh3,995.
Emirati citizens are among 67 nationalities who do not require a visa to Mexico. Entry is granted on arrival for stays of up to 180 days.
Teaching in coronavirus times
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Du Plessis plans his retirement
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis said on Friday the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia in two years' time will be his last.
Du Plessis, 34, who has led his country in two World T20 campaigns, in 2014 and 2016, is keen to play a third but will then step aside.
"The T20 World Cup in 2020 is something I'm really looking forward to. I think right now that will probably be the last tournament for me," he said in Brisbane ahead of a one-off T20 against Australia on Saturday.
How does ToTok work?
The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store
To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.
The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.
Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.
