LeBron James reacts to Raptors star RJ Barrett's game-winner

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James. Erik Williams-Imagn Images

LeBron James reacts to Raptors star RJ Barrett's game-winner vs. Cavaliers

By Simoun Redoblado | Last updated May 2, 2026 6:51 PM ET

Shortly before LeBron James and his Los Angeles Lakers squad tipped off Game 6 against the Houston Rockets, RJ Barrett was closing things out in Toronto.

At some point Friday night, James watched the clip of Barrett getting a lucky bounce to force a Game 7 in the Raptors-Cavaliers series.

James has never teamed with Barrett in the NBA, but for multiple reasons, that last shot made the King happy.

"Thank you, Toronto. Thank you, RJ Barrett. I appreciate it," James said after the Lakers blew out the Rockets 98-78 to win Game 6.

“Thank you, Toronto. Thank you, RJ Barrett. I appreciate it. Haven’t seen a shot in Toronto like that since Kawhi. There’s something about those rims” - LeBron James on Game 1 vs OKC being Tuesday instead of Sunday because TOR forced Game 7 vs CLE pic.twitter.com/HdBw6d5jrd
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) May 2, 2026

LeBron James has a valid reason to thank RJ Barrett

Did James become a devoted Raptors fan in a heartbeat? Not quite. Thanks to Barrett's incredibly clutch shot, the Raptors-Cavs series will extend till Sunday. Because this Game 7 now exists on the NBA's playoff schedule, Game 1 of the Lakers-Thunder series won't be played this weekend; instead, it'll take place on Tuesday.

That means an extra two days of recovery and preparation for the Lakers after the unwanted stress of a prolonged series with the Rockets, who won two consecutive games after going down 3-0. James could certainly use some rest, and it would be great for Austin Reaves (who returned in Game 5 after dealing with an oblique injury) to have an opportunity to pace himself as well.

And then, there's the awe factor. James has been in the league for 23 years, but he is still appreciative of clutch baskets that test the laws of physics.

"Haven't seen a shot in Toronto like that since Kawhi," James added. "There's something about those rims."

The Lakers superstar, of course, is referring to Game 7 of the Raptors-76ers series back in 2019, when Kawhi Leonard drove to the corner and launched a game-winning basket that got a shooter's bounce. Multiple bounces, in fact. Barrett and Leonard had good fortune on their side, and when James leads the Lakers against the defending champions this Tuesday, a little push from Lady Luck wouldn't hurt, either.

Simoun Redoblado

Simoun Redoblado is a basketball and combat sports enthusiast. He has written opinion pieces, listicles, and feature pieces on the NBA, FIBA, Olympic Games, and the local basketball scene in his home country. A product of the University of the Philippines, Simoun dreams of becoming a play-by-play commentator someday.

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