LOS ANGELES -- Long before the midseason trade that changed everything for the Los Angeles Lakers. Before Russell Westbrook dabbled as a sixth man and jawed with coach Darvin Ham at halftime the night LeBron James became the NBA's all-time scoring leader. Before Anthony Davis was lost for 20 games with the kind of foot injury that has ended the careers of other big men. Before James was lost for 13 games with a foot injury he needed a doctor of LeBron Jamesian skill to mend.
Before Dennis Schroder and James' joint ice-water-in-my-veins salute after a clutch corner 3-pointer in Tuesday's 108-102 comeback overtime win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in the play-in game at Crypto.