Photo Credit: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu

Eric Paschall Shares Story Of Getting Bullied By LeBron James In His First Game

Golden State Warriors rookie Eric Paschall recalled his team’s pre-season opener against the Los Angeles Lakers where he had his ‘welcome to the league’ moment involving arguably the best player in the NBA, LeBron James.

In an interview with Howard Beck on ‘The Full 48’ podcast, Paschall shared a story about unexpectedly coming off the bench, having to guard one of the league’s most dynamic duos in Anthony Davis and LeBron James.

As transcribed by Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports:

“My welcome to the NBA moment was definitely in my first preseason game. I didn’t expect to be the first person in off the bench. So coach Kerr’s like, ‘Eric!’ He laughs in my face and just goes, ‘You got AD.’

“So I have to guard AD, I have to guard LeBron.”

The Lakers destroyed the Warriors 123-101 with James pouring out 15 points, 3 rebounds and 8 assists. James played fairly well, but that’s not the main thing Paschall remembered from James on that night. The Warriors rookie recalled getting bullied by James for the first time.

“I played all right,” Paschall, who scored 11 points himself, said. “LeBron bullied me for the first time. I thought I was a strong guy until I met him, so that was kind of crazy. But the next time, I bumped him just so he doesn’t bully me again.

“I took a foul on that one, but I feel like I wound up playing well against him.”

The Warriors found a steal in Eric Paschall who enjoyed a stellar rookie year this season. Despite being a second-round pick, Paschall was one of the top performing rookies before the hiatus, averaging 14.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game on 49.7% shooting from the field.