The NBA is an extremely competitive league, and athletes find it hard to sustain their greatness. LeBron James, who has now entered year 18, does not seem to be at the peak of his physical powers like he once was. 

The King and the Lakers took on the LA Clippers in their season opener, but they fell short of the victory line and suffered a loss against the rivals. A win would’ve capped off a perfect night as the Lakers received their championship rings prior to the game. 

LeBron James records an all-time low against Clippers

Fans were expecting LeBron and the Lakers to come up big against the Clips on opening night. The Lakers, in fact, had won both their pre-season games against the Clippers, and there was every reason why a win was on the cards for the reigning champions. 

But Paul George put up a 33-point performance on 13-18 FG shooting to deny the Lakers a victory. On the other hand, LeBron James secured 22 points, but he played only 28 minutes in the game. 

As per ESPN Stats & Info, this is the fewest number of minutes LeBron has played in a season opener, ever! 

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“It also marked the first season opener that he failed to record a double-double since 2014,” their Twitter posted mentioned. 

In retrospect, LeBron played 42 minutes in his rookie year’s season opener and recorded in 36 minutes during the 2020 season’s first game. Hence the current season’s number looks tiny in front of his previous game times. 

It might be the mastermind of Frank Vogel, who’s looking to keep his best player rested for the jam-packed schedule that is yet to come their way. But one small fact is that LeBron is aging, and his workload has to be reduced to comply with his capacity. 

Also Read | Lakers’ Anthony Davis Drops an Early Christmas Present For Underprivileged Kids

The Lakers’ ring ceremony had everyone in awe

It was indeed a special occasion for the Los Angeles Lakers during the season’s opening night. Their ring ceremony was the first in NBA history to take place without any fans, but the team loved it despite the missing factors. 

Even the players’ family members were not present in the arena, but they delivered their love and support to the players through a virtual message. This year’s ring ceremony was loved by everyone owing to the fact that the athletes received their ring following their family’s message, which made it look beautiful. 

Lakers legend Magic Johnson was truly inspired by the way things were arranged. The five-time NBA champion made a bold opinion about the ceremony and called it the best he’s ever seen! 

LeBron James and the Lakers opened their account with a disappointing loss, but they have a long road ahead. Can the purple and gold complete the double this season?

Also Read | Celtics Legend Bill Russell Puts on Lakers Jersey to Honor Kobe Bryant