It’s finally coming: Tonight (Monday to Tuesday, 5:00 p.m., live on 5 SPORT) there will be the most intriguing encounter, at least in Israeli eyes – the one between Danny Abdia and the Washington Wizards, and the Los Angeles Lakers with LeBron James. In honor of the exciting event, we decided to go back a little – to the meetings of the first Israeli in the best league in the world against the King.
- Tonight, 5 p.m., live on 5 SPORT: The Lakers and LeBron vs. Danny Abdia’s Washington
Caspi and James met a total of 16 times, head to head in the league. Caspi’s record display against the powerful opponent came in December 2010 – when the Israeli’s Sacramento Kings was defeated 104: 83 by the Miami Heat, but Caspi scored no less than 20 points, picked up 3 rebounds and also delivered one assist in 26 minutes. LeBron, by the way, scored 25 on the other side (along with 10 rebounds). It was also the most two-way battle between the two, that is – the one where the gap was smallest in the number of points.
Out of 15 times, only once did the Israeli’s team go to the top: it happened when Caspi played in the Golden State media, then the NBA champion, and the Warriors with Steve Kerr won 92:99 in December 2017. Caspi, by the way, did not really contribute in that game – He played just 11 minutes, picked up 2 rebounds and scored 6 points in total.
Only once did Caspi manage to meet LeBron in the Lakers media. It happened in December 2018, and it was also the last time – the Israeli was already at the end of his career in the NBA, recording only 12 minutes and 6 points. Now, Abdia will try to pick up the ball from the place that Caspi landed – again in California, this time at Staples Center. Hope to find the magic touch again.
Full list:
23/12/2009 – Sacramento 104, Cleveland 117
Caspi: 44 minutes, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 18 points
LeBron: 43 minutes, 16 rebounds, 10 assists, 34 points
28/3/2010 – Cleveland 97, Sacramento 90
Financial: 21 minutes, one rebound, 0 assists, one point
LeBron: 39 minutes, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, 34 points
11/12/2010 – Sacramento 83, Miami 104
Caspi: 26 minutes, 3 rebounds, one assist, 20 points
LeBron: 35 minutes, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 25 points
22/02/2011 – Miami 117, Sacramento 97
Financial: 25 minutes, one rebound, 2 assists, 10 points
LeBron: 30 minutes, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 31 points
24/01/2012 – Miami 92, Cleveland 85
Caspi: 18 minutes, 0 rebounds, 0 assists, 6 points
LeBron: 37 minutes, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 18 points
07/02/2012 – Miami 107, Cleveland 91
Financial: 24 minutes, one rebound, 4 assists, 6 points
LeBron: 38 minutes, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 24 points
17/02/2012 – Cleveland 87, Miami 111
Caspi: 27 minutes, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 points
LeBron: 30 minutes, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 28 points
24/11/2012 – Miami 110, Cleveland 108
Money: 15 minutes, one rebound, one assist, 15 points
LeBron: 39 minutes, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 30 points
20/03/2013 – Miami 98, Cleveland 95
Financial: 4 minutes, one rebound, one assist, 0 points
LeBron: 42 minutes, 12 rebounds, 10 assists, 25 points
30/01/2015 – Cleveland 101, Sacramento 90
Caspi: 22 minutes, 3 rebounds, 0 assists, 15 points
LeBron: 33 minutes, 3 rebounds, 7 assists, 19 points
08/02/2016 – Cleveland 120, Sacramento 100
Caspi: 29 minutes, 6 rebounds, one assist, 16 points
LeBron: 30 minutes, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, 21 points
09/03/2016 – Sacramento 111, Cleveland 120
Financial: 22 minutes, one rebound, 0 assists, 13 points
LeBron: 36 minutes, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 25 points
13/01/2017 – Sacramento 108, Cleveland 120
Financial: 6 minutes, one rebound, one assist, 2 points
LeBron: 41 minutes, 2 rebounds, 15 assists, 16 points
25/12/2017 – Golden State 99, Cleveland 92
Caspi: 11 minutes, 2 rebounds, 0 assists, 6 points
LeBron: 40 minutes, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 20 points
08/12/2018 – Memphis 88, Lakers 111
Financial: 12 minutes, one rebound, one assist, 6 points
LeBron: 31 minutes, 8 rebounds, 9 assists, 20 points