LeBron James dropped a breathtaking no-look 3-pointer to win a $100 in-game bet with a teammate
- LeBron James dropped a wild no-look three pointer to win a mid-game bet with Dennis Schroder as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Houston Rockets Tuesday.
- From the bench, Schroder bet James $100 that he wouldn't make a shot just as he picked the ball up in corner.
- James took the bet as he shot before turning to face Schroder as the ball went through the basket.
- "A bet isn't official until you look a man in the eye, so I had to look him into the eye," James explained after.
LeBron James dropped a wild no-look three pointer to win a mid-game bet with his teammate as the Los Angeles Lakers recorded a convincing 117-100 win over the Houston Rockets on Tuesday.
The Lakers were leading the Rockets by 21 points in the second quarter when James caught a pass in the corner, just in front of the Lakers bench, and shaped to shoot.
Teammate Dennis Schroder quickly wagered that he wouldn't make the shot.
"I told him to bet a Benjamin on it, so he shot it," Schroder said after the game, referring to a $100 bill.
Just as James took the shot, he turned to face Schroder, with the ball going through the basket while he was still facing the bench.
Announcers on the game loved the play, calling: "He turned the other way! He turned the other way and looked at the bench as he let it fly. They can't believe it. They love it!"
After the game, James explained that he"took the bet while I was still shooting the ball."
"A bet isn't official until you look a man in the eye, so I had to look him into the eye, and I was able to win that one."
James later tagged Schroder in a video of the shot on his Instagram, saying: "Good bet."
James also paid homage to Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry, who has made the no-look three pointer his trademark shot.
"Steph [has] definitely probably done it the most in our league," said James. "And when you shoot the ball as beautiful and effortlessly and precisely as Steph does, he has the ultimate, ultra-green light to do that, cause 10 times out of nine, it's going in for Steph."
After guiding the Lakers to the NBA title last year, James has enjoyed a fine start to the 2021 season, averaging 24.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 7.5 assists in 12 games, nine of which the Lakers have won to help it to the top of the Western Conference.
Tuesday night's shot was James' second highlight-reel play of the week, following an incredible left-handed, full-court assist Sunday, also against the Rockets - which was described as "sweet" and "just beautiful."
The Lakers next game comes against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Chesapeake Energy Arena on Thursday.
Read more:
LeBron James speaks on rioters that stormed Capitol: 'We live in two Americas'
LeBron James and Stephen Curry might be the only players truly worth the NBA supermax
LeBron James tops the list of the top 13 players in the NBA right now