[Saba Sports News] When asked about the escalating rivalry between the Nuggets and Lakers, Jamal Murray had a straightforward response, saying, “No, that’s all for you guys. I just go play basketball and have fun.”
The Nuggets had previously swept the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals on their way to winning the 2023 Championship. While the four games of the sweep were competitive, the Lakers couldn’t secure a single victory in the series, boosting the Nuggets’ confidence for the Finals, where they dominated the Miami Heat, losing only one game.
The Lakers, on the other hand, lost four closely contested games, leaving them disappointed with their season’s conclusion. This disappointment led to sniping comments from the Lakers, prompting responses from the Nuggets and adding more anticipation to their upcoming opening night matchup.
Anthony Davis initiated the exchange when he expressed his displeasure with the Nuggets’ trash-talking during and after the playoffs. He commented, “It was just a lot of talking. We get it, y’all won, but me and Bron had some conversations… we can’t wait [to play them].”
Davis, a key player for the Lakers in the postseason, took the sweep personally, and it’s expected that he will become the primary option for the team while LeBron James takes on a different role, leveraging his basketball IQ either off-ball or as a playmaker. Davis averaged 25.9 points, 12.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 2.0 blocks last season.