For the first time since the 2004-2005 NBA Season, LeBron James will not be playing in the playoffs. That streak not only concludes his run through the NBA’s best teams but also ends his historic run of eight straight NBA Finals.
The wrap on his roller-coaster Los Angeles Lakers season came Friday night at Staples Center when the visiting Brooklyn Nets handed the LakeShow a 111-106 loss, sliding the group down to their 31-41 record. James put up 25 points and 11 rebounds and JaVale McGee chipped in 33 points and but it was not enough for the battle to live on.
“It’s not what we signed up for. Throughout the year, things happened. Suspensions, injuries, things of that nature. And just not being able to play sustainable basketball for 48 minutes,” James said after the game. “But you don’t even try to wrap your head around it, you just keep pushing. Just try to get better tonight, move onto tomorrow, and go from there.”
The Los Angeles Lakers will now turn their attention to the recovery of their players including LeBron, but in addition to Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram, and the possibility of getting very lucky in the upcoming NBA Draft Lottery.
