The Los Angeles Lakers needed everything they had, especially without Anthony Davis, to defeat the Chicago Bulls on Friday night, 117-115. The Bulls have been playing much better since a 0-3 start to the season and pushed the Lakers to the brink, with the most interesting matchup of last night’s game being between rookie forward Patrick Williams and Lakers star LeBron James,
Williams covered LeBron for the whole game and while James still got his numbers, including a tough lay-up against Williams while he was fouled, but there were plenty of times throughout the night where Williams prevented James from scoring with his frame and athleticism. After the game, LeBron likened Williams’ hands to that of another player who has defended him well over the years: Clippers star and two-time NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard.
Asked LeBron James his impressions of Bulls rookie Patrick Williams:
"Long arms. He has Kawhi-type hands that I noticed out on the floor, so I knew I couldn’t play with the ball much. You could tell he’s laser sharp on just trying to get better…. Chicago has a good one."
— Rob Schaefer (@rob_schaef) January 9, 2021
While the Bulls lost the game, getting high praise for their most recent lottery pick like that from LeBron James is as almost good as a win. Up next for the Bulls is a date against the very same guy LeBron compared Williams to with a game on Sunday in L.A. against Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers. Meanwhile, the Lakers start a three-game road trip on Sunday against the Houston Rockets.
