LeBron James praise for Zion Williamson
"He's an incredible player," Williamson, who scored 29, said of James. "I mean, he handled business."
James has faced a fellow No. 1 overall pick 356 times -- and had the scoring advantage in 297 of those games, according to ESPN Stats & Information. It looked as if James had some extra fire for the matchup, as he tallied 17 fast-break points, his most with the Lakers and tied for the third most in his career.
"Satisfaction for me always comes in a win, no matter how well I'm playing," said James, who at 35 also became the oldest player with a 40-point game at Staples Center since the late Kobe Bryant scored 60 in his final NBA game at age 37 in 2016.
But James had plenty of praise for the 19-year-old Williamson, the top pick in the 2019 draft whom James called "very explosive" and "very quick for his size."
James has faced a fellow No. 1 overall pick 356 times -- and had the scoring advantage in 297 of those games, according to ESPN Stats & Information. It looked as if James had some extra fire for the matchup, as he tallied 17 fast-break points, his most with the Lakers and tied for the third most in his career.
"Satisfaction for me always comes in a win, no matter how well I'm playing," said James, who at 35 also became the oldest player with a 40-point game at Staples Center since the late Kobe Bryant scored 60 in his final NBA game at age 37 in 2016.
But James had plenty of praise for the 19-year-old Williamson, the top pick in the 2019 draft whom James called "very explosive" and "very quick for his size."