By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
LeBron James scored 42 points in his long-awaited return to the Drew League and, alongside DeMar DeRozan, handed MMV Cheaters a 104-102 victory against Black Pearl Elite on Saturday.
It was James’ first public game in over three months, as the Lakers star had missed the last eight regular-season games in 2021-22 due to a left ankle sprain. He also made his return to the league for the first time since the 2011 NBA lockout.
“I’m 100 percent healthy,” James reassured during the first half of the game.
Adding to James’ powerful display, DeRozan exited the game, his third in the league for this summer, with 30 points and 14 rebounds.
Drew League commissioner Dino Smiley said that he expected Kyrie Irving to play in the game prior to MMV Cheaters’ clash with Black Pearl Elite, but that wasn’t the case. “We still have a couple of games left today and then six tomorrow, so we’ll see.”