Finding the right shoes didn’t seem like an easy thing for Desmond Bane this season. Indeed, the back of Memphis suffered from problems in the right big toe (at a sesamoid bone exactly) at the start of the season. He thus missed a month of competition and will probably have to have surgery this summer.
To limit the pain and finish this 2022/2023 exercise as well as possible, Bane had to find the ideal pair, with a rigid sole. Like 67% of players in the league, he turned to a pair of Nikes. He tried PG 6s, but it wasn’t satisfying enough. Nor are the Kyrie Irvings, which he has worn in recent seasons, let alone the Nike Zoom GTs.
Eventually, the solution was the LeBron XX. Except that the Memphis player has a small history with the Lakers legend, since a game in January 2022. And in addition, the Grizzlies apply, like other teams in the league, an unspoken rule: you don’t wear shoes. of the opponent…
“I wasn’t thrilled, but I put my pride aside and did what was best for my body and my career,” does he admit to ESPN. “As soon as I put on the LeBrons and saw that it worked, I thought it would be like this. »
LeBron James offers to send him pairs…
The player therefore played all 46 regular season matches after returning from injury with the shoes of the 2020 Finals MVP on his feet. Before finding him in the playoffs, he had already crossed “LBJ” on January 20 with. Since the two had clashed a year before, and James doesn’t want his opponents wearing his shoes, what was his reaction?
“He asked me if I had enough pairs, if I needed more”says Bane. “It was said in a positive tone, and we moved on. »
A version confirmed by the Lakers player, after Game 1 of the first round, who spoke of “respect” to justify his attitude towards his opponent.
“I joked about that a few years ago, that if an opponent wore my shoes, I was going to kick their ass, etc. I don’t have that kind of energy, that kind of craving anymore. I just thought that was cool and I have to send him more now. I have to make sure he’s a LeBron athlete now. »
| Desmond Bane | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2020-21 | SAME | 68 | 22 | 46.9 | 43.2 | 81.6 | 0.5 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 9.2 |
| 2021-22 | SAME | 76 | 30 | 46.1 | 43.6 | 90.3 | 0.6 | 3.8 | 4.4 | 2.7 | 2.6 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 18.2 |
| 2022-23 | SAME | 58 | 32 | 47.9 | 40.8 | 88.3 | 0.7 | 4.3 | 5.0 | 4.4 | 2.6 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 0.4 | 21.5 |
| Total | 202 | 28 | 46.9 | 42.5 | 88.3 | 0.6 | 3.5 | 4.1 | 2.9 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 16.1 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
