Spurs Fiesta 5: LeBron James Applauds Lonnie Walker's Playoff Performance

Inside The Spurs identifies five of the biggest NBA storylines in addition to relevant San Antonio Spurs news and analysis.

Jeremy Brener | May 10, 2023

Spurs Fiesta 5: LeBron James Applauds Lonnie Walker's Playoff Performance /

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San Antonio Spurs

1. LEBRON LOVES LONNIE

"It's not even about tonight," LeBron James said in his TNT postgame interview. "I've been telling him, I said, 'Lonnie, stay ready. We're going to need you at some point.' And for him to be as young as he is, for him to have that professionalism, come out, stay ready when his number is called. We don't win this game without Lonnie Walker tonight, that's for sure."

2. 20 YEARS AGO, JASON KIDD ALMOST SIGNED WITH SPURS

“The Spurs come calling and ask, ‘Would I come join them?’” Kidd said. “And I did say yes. I said yes in San Antonio when I went down on my visit with Pop and Tim, I said yes.”

3. HEAT VS. KNICKS GAME 5

"Over the past two games, every time it has appeared that the Knicks were going to make things competitive, Miami has simply been better. Whether it be key shots (especially a three-pointer), an offensive rebound, a New York turnover, or simply a defensive stop, the Heat have been a step ahead."

Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. EST on TNT.

4. LAKERS VS. WARRIORS GAME 5

"Game 5 gives a new opportunity for both teams to display their great skills once more. We expect that the Warriors will deliver a strong performance to make a comeback and keep the series interesting. However, if you’ve seen the Lakers' gameplay in this series, particularly their performance last night, it is apparent that the Warriors will face a difficult challenge in winning by a large margin."

Tipoff is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. EST on TNT.

5. NBA DRAFT LOTTERY COUNTDOWN

The Spurs are six days away from the NBA Draft Lottery, where it will be revealed if San Antonio will have the opportunity to take Victor Wembanyama with the No. 1 overall pick.

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Published May 10, 2023

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.