The Los Angeles Lakers are 26-30 on the year, placing them ninth in the Western Conference.
Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns are 44-10 and boast the best record in the entire NBA.
For obvious reasons – Phoenix wants its respect. And the organization seems very tired of hearing about the Lakers when they are so far superior.
Suns star Cameron Payne said this much recently.
During a Twitter Spaces session, Payne absolutely destroyed the Lakers.
“We the number one team in the world and you worried about the Lakers,” he said. “They are the worst team in the West.”
Payne, specifically, has some history with LeBron James and the Lakers. That alone should explain why he has so little love for the purple and gold. But if it doesn’t, don’t forget about the report that surfaced on TNT’s “Inside the NBA” this week.
“I’ve heard from a powerful source inside the organization, they’re right where they want to be,” Shaquille O’Neal said.
“What I mean, they would rather play Phoenix in the first round than Golden State. Just telling you what I heard.”
Kliff Kingsbury seems to be dealing well with the Kyler Murray drama. https://t.co/pcLUPbmT26
— Game 7 (@game7__) February 9, 2022
Make of that what you will.
Either way, any which manner in which you want to slice it — clearly the Lakers and Suns are going to continue to be rivals for the foreseeable future.
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Charles Kruger has been credentialed to cover two Super Bowls, four NBA Finals, and one World Series. A 20-year veteran in the sports world, he has sources spanning the NBA, MLB, NFL, UFC and NASCAR. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Calif., he is Game 7’s go-to source for rumors surrounding the Lakers, Clippers and Dodgers.
