Los Angeles Lakers All Star LeBron James is on the short list of NBA players in the running for the 2020 NBA MVP Award, but he is much more focused on being the greatest player in the world than winning that trophy for the fifth time. In fact, it doesn't sound like LeBron cares much for the league's regular season MVP honor.

Speaking with reporters on Thursday, LeBron explained that his motivation is grounded in his pursuit to be the best to ever play the game.

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Says LeBron, "It [the MVP Award] never motivated me... To be the best, to be the best to ever play the game, motivates me." He adds, "I've never gone into a season saying, 'OK, league MVP is what I want to do.' I've gone into the season saying, 'OK, I want to be the MVP of this team, I want to be the best player in the world."

In his 17th NBA season, the four-time MVP is averaging 25.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and a league-leading 10.7 assists per game, all while leading the Lakers to a Western Conference-best 47-13 record. At 35 years old he has shown absolutely no signs of slowing in his pursuit to become the greatest all around player to ever pick up a basketball.

LeBron's next test will come on Friday night, as the Lakers host reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and the NBA-leading Milwaukee Bucks in a potential NBA Finals preview. That game, airing on ESPN, is scheduled to tipoff at 10:30pm ET.

Click here to see what Giannis had to say about the MVP-caliber season that LeBron is putting together this year.

Alex Caruso is an NBA folk hero and it all started after a game last season in which the Lakers season was already over. Caruso got significant minutes in the game and ended up with a huge putback dunk that shocked everyone on the Los Angeles Lakers bench. Over the past few months, Caruso had continued to provide fans with highlight-reel plays and is now a bonafide fan-favorite in Los Angeles.

Caruso was recently a guest on the Official Lakers Podcast where he got to speak about all of the attention he’s been getting over the last little while. As he explains, he’s a pretty lowkey guy and at times, the memes have proven to be just too much for him although he understands why it’s happening.

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“But yeah, it did get to a point to where I was just sitting back and literally anything I did, somebody would tweet about it, or somebody was reporting on it, and at a certain point I was just like, ‘this is just like borderline annoying,’” Caruso said. “It was to the point where it’s like, let’s just focus on basketball, and we’re having so much success on the court that I would love for it to be more about that than me doing a random play in a game.”

Thanks to Caruso’s unique look and sneaky athleticism, he will continue to be a folk hero for years to come. If the Lakers win the championship, we can only imagine what the Lakers player will go through.

Basketball fans will be treated to a potential NBA Finals preview on Friday night as LeBron James and the Western Conference-leading Los Angeles Lakers play host Giannis Antetokounmpo and the NBA-leading Milwaukee Bucks. Ahead of the highly anticipated showdown between the league's top two teams, Giannis offered high praise for LeBron as he described what his fellow MVP candidate has accomplished this season as nothing short of amazing.

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During a media scrum at the Fiserv Forum on Wednesday, Giannis said of LeBron's play this season: "It's amazing... Thirty-five and playing at a high level. ... He just leads the path for us. A lot of times we think that 'Ok, we're going to retire at 35,' but seeing a guy at 35, being still top-three best player in the world, that makes us want to be there." He adds, "It makes me want to be there one day," Giannis said. "I keep taking care of my body, eating the right way, being healthy. He paved the way. Hopefully we can follow."

Giannis is right. Judging by what LeBron is doing at age 35, it wouldn't be surprising if he continues playing until he's 45. In his 17th NBA season, the four-time MVP is averaging 25.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and a league-leading 10.7 assists per game, all while leading the Lakers to a 47-13 record.

You can watch the two superstars go head-to-head on Friday night on ESPN. Tip-off is scheduled for 10:30pm ET.

LeBron James was downright dominant last night as his Los Angeles Lakers took on the Philadelphia 76ers. The Lakers came away with a huge 120-107 victory and are now 47-13 on the season. It’s clear that the Lakers are championship contenders and if LeBron keeps playing the way he is, this team could make a serious run. Having said that, LeBron came through with a plethora of highlights against the 76ers. These highlights included a huge dunk as well as a three-point shot all the way from the Lakers logo.

In light of these plays, the “Washed King” took to Instagram where he got braggadocios for a second. LeBron wanted to talk that talk and honestly, we feel him. When you’re playing your best basketball, you have the right to remind people of your greatness. 

“Trying something new. Jumping out the ? frame! Ha,” James said in one caption. “Me. I bet you won’t. Me. Man who you talking to? Me. I’m talking to you(I bet you won’t). Me. Man you must not know me well!” he said in the other.

As the season goes on, we will probably see less of LeBron as the Lakers will try to rest him prior to the playoffs. Once the postseason begins though, we will be in for a treat.

For years, men have been told that it’s not okay to cry. I’m sure some of you comments section warriors agree with this sentiment. I mean why cry when you can roast your favorite HNHH writer instead? Ultimately, crying has been seen as something that isn’t “manly.” Emotions should be suppressed and kept to yourself. Over the past few years, this philosophy has been tossed to the side, at least to some degree. Especially in the sports world, we see more and more athletes showing their emotions and breaking down after big wins or losses.

In a recent report by Melissa Rohlin of Sports Illustrated, athletes spoke about showcasing their emotions and how they feel the need to do so these days, especially in light of Kobe Bryant’s passing. LeBron James was spoken to for this story and he offered some interesting insight on why it’s okay for a man to shed some tears every now and then.

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“Men should be emotional when something hits your heart,” James said. “When something feels a certain way, there’s no reason you shouldn’t be emotional about it. The emotion comes from, especially in this instance, somebody who has paved the way and done so many great things in our sport.”

With LeBron’s comments in mind, we can certainly learn a thing or two from the NBA superstar. If you’re feeling emotional, let it out because if you suppress everything, it’s just going to come pouring out later.

Dwight Howard is currently playing for the Los Angeles Lakers and he's been having himself a nice season. After years of falling off, Howard is back to playing at a high level, even if he's more of a role player than anything else. Howard's play is in stark contrast with how things went down with the Los Angeles Lakers almost ten years ago. Howard played well under his potential while in Los Angeles and eventually left the team in free agency back in 2013. 

During a recent conference, Lakers part-owner Jeanie Buss spoke about Howard's resurgence with the Lakers and even took some shots at Mike D'Antoni, saying the Houston Rockets head coach didn't know how to utilize Howard properly. According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, Howard replied to these remarks but opted to steer clear of any controversy.

LeBron James is in his 17th season but that hasn't stopped him from playing some of the best basketball of his career. The King looks rejuvenated thanks to this Los Angeles Lakers team and he is trying to set himself up for a potential championship run. Last night, the Lakers took on the injured Philadelphia 76ers and ended up winning by a score of 120-107. It was a big game for LeBron James and Anthony Davis who dominated on both sides of the floor. 

One of the biggest highlights of the entire game was when LeBron pulled up from the Lakers logo and drained a long three-point shot. Social media went ballistic as LeBron made the shot with a ton of ease. It was so effortless but incredibly difficult at the same time. LeBron went on to comment on his shot, after the game. 

LaVar Ball has been his kids' biggest advocate over the years although it hasn't always been presented in the best way possible. Ball has been in the news consistently over the last three years thanks to the way he conducts business and hovers over his kids like a cloud. It all started with Lonzo Ball back in 2017 and the trend has continued with sons like LiAngelo and LaMelo.

Today, Ball was back in his old ways as he hit up FS1's Undisputed where he spoke to the likes of Skip Bayless and Shannon Sharpe. The man made some pretty interesting claims about LiAngelo and LaMelo although perhaps it was his Lonzo take that shattered them all. Ball thinks if the Pelicans play the Lakers in the playoffs, Lonzo will lead his team to victory as he will be in "revenge mode."

Dwight Howard joined the Los Angeles Lakers early last decade and people thought it would turn the squad into a super team that could rival the likes of the Miami Heat. Instead, the Howard experiment turned out to be a bit of a disaster and he left the team after just a short time. Now, Howard is back on the Lakers and is seeing a bit of a resurgence. He's been a huge contributor on a Lakers team that is first in the Western Conference and is expected to make a huge push for a championship.

During a recent conference, Lakers part-owner Jeanie Buss spoke about Howard's first stint in Los Angeles and was quite adamant that it was a coaching issue that kept him from reaching his full potential. For those who forgot, Houston Rockets head coach Mike D'Antoni was leading the team at the time.

Kobe Bryant meant a lot to basketball players and fans around the world. Unfortunately, he shockingly passed away on January 26th alongside his daughter Gianna and seven others, in a helicopter crash. The tragedy brought the world together in a time where everyone was sad about what had just transpired. The Los Angeles Lakers found out about Kobe’s passing while on a team flight home from Philadelphia. LeBron James was close to Kobe and immediately felt the loss of his friend.

In a piece from ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, LeBron’s role in helping his teammates during the tragedy was outlined quite thoroughly. According to the report, LeBron worked closely with management as well as NBA commissioner Adam Silver. These efforts eventually led to the postponing of a game against the Los Angeles Clippers.

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Per Windhorst:

“Then, in the wake of Bryant’s death, James worked alongside Buss and general manager Rob Pelinka to help manage his teammates in the emotional days. While Buss and Pelinka provided support to the Bryant family, James connected with team members, and then Silver directly, as he pushed for the postponement of a game against the LA Clippers because he didn’t believe the team was emotionally ready to play.”

Since Kobe’s passing, the team has come through with some incredible tributes and is dedicating the rest of the season in his honor.