Drew League

Some basketball fans waited overnight. The line to get into Los Angeles' King Drew Magnet High School stretched for blocks once word got out that Lakers ...

In a tweet last summer, James suggested it was getting close for another Drew League appearance. NBA.com and the NBA app televised the game. Before the game, James joked with Clipper Darrell before opening tip-off and shook hands with fans courtside.

Kyrie Irving was also scheduled to play in the opening game of the day but did not appear.

Seeing stars like James and Irving play at the Drew League is a rare offseason treat. LeBron James last played in the Drew League during the 2011 NBA lockout, but on Saturday, 11 years later, he made his grand return to the stage. The Drew League has often served as a venue for NBA players to hone their skills against strong competition in the offseason, but for the past decade, the game's biggest star has avoided it.

LeBron piles up 42 points and 16 rebounds Saturday in the Drew League, his 1st appearance at the pro-am tournament since 2011.

— Overtime (@overtime)July 16, 2022 — Overtime (@overtime)July 16, 2022 Thank you@DrewLeague!! Loved the energy from start to finish!

The Los Angeles Lakers superstar teamed up with DeMar DeRozan for his first Drew League appearance since 2011.

James' competitive fire was present even during the pro-am match, as he disputed a call with the Drew League referees late in the game. The Drew League, a pro-am summer basketball league based in Los Angeles, has had its share of NBA players show up to dazzle fans and opponents alike. DeRozan added 30 points and 14 rebounds of his own.

The Drew League is pretty high level basketball. It's arguably the best summer pro-am in the nation, a court stacked with college players and international ...

— NBA (@NBA)July 16, 2022 — NBA (@NBA)July 16, 2022 LeBron is maybe the greatest to ever lace them up and he can roll out on a July Saturday and drop 42 like it’s nothing. — NBA (@NBA)July 16, 2022 LeBron’s showing at the Drew dominated social media for the day, especially everything NBA — the NBA app crashed with so many people were trying to stream the game — because this was about the pure love of hoop. — NBA (@NBA)July 16, 2022

LeBron suited up alongside DeMar DeRozan on the Cheaters (yes, that was the name they chose).

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The Drew League is a pro-am basketball league that hosts games in Los Angeles every summer. Over the years, it's become fertile ground for NBA players to break ...

It’s been a great year to say the least," DeRozan said of his first season with the Bulls on the night they were eliminated from the playoffs. DeRozan, a Compton native, has long been a staple of the showcase — and has already shown out this year. Over the years, it's become fertile ground for NBA players to break up their offseason with some competitive action.

The future Hall of Famer turned in yet another vintage performance in front of a jam-packed crowd in Los Angeles.

Moments later, the future Hall of Famer slashed his way to the rim for a spinning, one-handed dunk in a fashion not dissimilar to his highlight-reel plays that have littered his 19-year career. The highlights continued to roll in as both teams traded baskets down the stretch. With the Cheaters up 101–97 with less than 1:30 to play, DeRozan hooked up with James for an alley-oop to increase the lead to six with 1:23 remaining. DeRozan, a Drew League legend and Pro-Am regular, ended the game with 30 points and 14 rebounds. Black Pearl soon closed the gap, setting the stage for none other than James to ice the game at the free throw line after with 4.5 seconds to go. A standing-room only crowd of all ages packed inside the gym at King/Drew Magnet High School in Los Angeles to witness the 37-year-old’s appearance at the renowned Pro-Am league just hours after it was announced he would be playing.

LeBron James scored 42 points in his return to the Drew League on Saturday, while Kyrie Irving's expected appearance in a separate game didn't happen.

So it was an honor, it was a blessing to share the court with him." "I'm glad he did it and it's great for the community." "I thought we really could have pulled it off," said Alvano, who recently signed a two-year contract to play in South Korea. "We had some mistakes down the stretch. DeRozan's feed to James for a two-handed, rim-bending dunk with 1:22 remaining put MMV up by six and seemingly in control. DeRozan, a Drew League staple who invited James to play on his and fellow Southern California native Casper Ware's team, scored 30 points on 9-for-23 shooting with 14 rebounds. The Drew League game Saturday marked the first public glimpse of the 37-year-old James playing basketball in more than three months.

LeBron James had 42 points and 16 rebounds while playing in the famed pro-am Drew League on Saturday in Los Angeles.

Irving and James were teammates on the Cleveland Cavaliers for three seasons, leading the organization to its first championship in 2016. A jumper at the other end was short as James' team held on for the win. James, handling the point, mixed it up early by attacking the basket and connecting on a few threes. But on Saturday, it withstood repeated dunks by arguably the best basketball player in the NBA. With the stands at capacity, a standing-room crowd lined both baselines. LeBron did not disappoint, scoring 42 points in front of a capacity crowd that scored free tickets on a first-come, first-serve basis.

LeBron James scored 42 points in his return to the Drew League on Saturday, while Kyrie Irving's expected appearance in a separate game didn't happen.

So it was an honor, it was a blessing to share the court with him." "I'm glad he did it and it's great for the community." "I thought we really could have pulled it off," said Alvano, who recently signed a two-year contract to play in South Korea. "We had some mistakes down the stretch. DeRozan's feed to James for a two-handed, rim-bending dunk with 1:22 remaining put MMV up by six and seemingly in control. DeRozan, a Drew League staple who invited James to play on his and fellow Southern California native Casper Ware's team, scored 30 points on 9-for-23 shooting with 14 rebounds. The Drew League game Saturday marked the first public glimpse of the 37-year-old James playing basketball in more than three months.

LeBron James played in his first Drew League game in a decade Saturday, scoring 42 points and drawing legions of fans eager to see the Lakers star up close.

It’s just the energy he brings everywhere he goes.” He just brought that type of atmosphere where there’s no room on the baseline to stand or anywhere. “Thank you @DrewLeague!!” James wrote on his Twitter account. He didn’t speak to reporters afterward but posted his gratitude on social media. Before James arrived, former Clippers and Lakers center Montrezl Harrell played in an earlier game, doing his thing from inside and outside with a three-point shot. “I’ve been here for four weeks.

James showed no lingering effects from the ankle injury as he thrilled an overflow crowd at the Drew League, a Los Angeles tradition in pro-am basketball for ...

It’s just the energy he brings everywhere he goes.” James showed no lingering effects from the ankle injury as he thrilled an overflow crowd at the Drew League, a Los Angeles tradition in pro-am basketball for nearly 50 years. He just brought that type of atmosphere where there’s no room on the baseline to stand or anywhere.

Kyrie Irving was also scheduled to play in the opening game of the day but did not appear.

Seeing stars like James and Irving play at the Drew League is a rare offseason treat. LeBron James last played in the Drew League during the 2011 NBA lockout, but on Saturday, 11 years later, he made his grand return to the stage. The Drew League has often served as a venue for NBA players to hone their skills against strong competition in the offseason, but for the past decade, the game's biggest star has avoided it.

The 4-time Kia MVP finishes with 42 points and 16 rebounds as DeMar DeRozan's MMV Cheaters defeat Black Pearl Elite 104-102.

Though Irving and James had games scheduled at different times, their expected arrival also sparked intrigue on a possible partnership next season with the Lakers. — Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina)July 16, 2022 But security quickly whisked James away into his car. — Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina)July 16, 2022 — Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina)July 16, 2022 That scheduling snafu did not soil the festive atmosphere, however, surrounding James’ arrival. — Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina)July 16, 2022 They wanted to see Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan, who grew up in Compton and played with James on Saturday. And they wanted to see Kyrie Irving, whom Smiley said had confirmed to play on Saturday at 11:45 a.m. PT. Irving attended a camp that Lakers assistant coach Phil Handy had hosted, leaving Drew League officials perplexed about Irving’s changed itinerary. — Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina)July 16, 2022 Drew League Commissioner Dino Smiley told NBA.com that about 2,500 fans attended James’ game, well above the 1,300 capacity that King-Drew Magnet High School normally holds. This marked James’ first Drew League appearance since participating in 2011 during the NBA lockout. This time, though, James stepped foot in another local venue well known for its affection for basketball.