Calm and confident, LeBron James says Los Angeles Lakers can 'absolutely' repeat in 2021 - ESPN

LeBron James is confident that the Los Angeles Lakers' offseason moves will put them in position to defend their NBA championship.

I mean, it's that simple," James said on an episode of the podcast "Road Trippin'," hosted by Richard Jefferson, Channing Frye and Allie Clifton, that aired Tuesday on Spectrum SportsNet.

"We did get younger," said James, appearing relaxed in a tie-dyed shirt and sipping on a glass of tequila during the episode.

Sometimes scrutinized for having a heavy hand when it comes to personnel decisions on the teams he has played for throughout his career, James hinted at some future roster possibilities for the Lakers, who will begin training camp on Thursday.

"Quinn, he's a pro, he's definitely going to get a look," James said.

"We'll see," James said when asked if he thought the 40-year-old Gasol could return to L.A.

James and the Lakers emerged victorious from the 22-team bubble, which required daily COVID-19 testing, but there is skepticism about the NBA's plan for the 2020-21 season.

"I'm very intrigued on seeing what the protocols are going to be," James said.

"The biggest reason," James said.

And they actually told us that in the winter, it's going to be more active than anytime and that's what we're in right now -- either if you're seeing snow or not, this is the wintertime and it's picking up steam.

James won his fourth NBA title while being named Finals MVP for a fourth time after beating the Miami Heat 4-2 in the championship round.

"It's almost the same feeling as the first time you go to a haunted house," James said.

And you get juiced up, juiced up and juiced up and juiced up -- you really don't realize how scary that s--- is until you get inside of that haunted house.

James said the Bucks' unilateral decision caused uncertainty for the rest of the league.

"When we're all together as an army, if we're an army and we're going out for battle and we say we're here in solidarity and someone in the front decides to go before we say, 'Charge!' Now we're all caught off guard," he said.

And I knew what could help the change," James said

"Ninety-six days, 95 nights," James said of his time in the bubble