USA Today via Reuters
Mar 27, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) walks off the court at the end of the second quarter of their game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Mar 27, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) walks off the court at the end of the second quarter of their game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
The NBA is going wild about the fact that LeBron James will not be in the playoffs. The face of the league missing the playoffs is not a good sign at all. And LeBron has missed it twice in the last four years, after missing it twice in 15 years. Now, a wild stat appeared about Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan, that put thoughts in many people’s heads about LeBron’s stand in the GOAT debate.
Even Kobe and Jordan have missed the playoffs in their career, but they have done so in different situations. Jordan made the playoffs every year he was with the Chicago Bulls. He missed it twice with the Washington Wizards.
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Kobe missed it five times in 20 years, but the last 4 times were during his twilight years. And he was injured for a majority of the time. LeBron missed the playoffs in his first two years, but he made it for the next 13 years. He has missed it twice in his four years with the Lakers.
NBA fans go nuts over bizarre stat about LeBron James and Michael Jordan after the Lakers are eliminated
Fans went nuts when they learned LeBron has missed the playoffs twice as many times as Jordan. And when another stat appeared that Kobe missed the playoffs only three times when he was healthy, they went mad.
Here are some of the best reactions of fans on Twitter.
Kobe played in a tougher West conference his whole career, took Kwame to the playoffs too 😂 but yeah #10 all time pic.twitter.com/EnYCwOgzHq
— Carlos Roman (@_C_a_r_l_i_t_o) April 6, 2022
It’s funny how they use this argument. So when MJ finally got another all star caliber player he didn’t lose lol. How many rings Lebron got without another HOF’er??
— D Ross (@DRoss8989) April 7, 2022
Lol since u want context. He never had 5 HoFers on the team and missed the playoffs. Give MJ 5 HoFers and he's going to win the chip. Lmao.
— Ashish N.V.R (@Ashish_NVR) April 7, 2022
And Kobe never had the play-in to rely on either lmao…
— 𝒮𝑀𝐻𝟤𝟦 ✪ (@smh24yt__) April 6, 2022
Why do y'all act like Kobe was infallible? He was overrated.
— IAMKING (@IAMKINGKINGAMI) April 7, 2022
LeBron has been in the playoffs in as many seasons as Jordan has played in the NBA.
MJ – 13 playoffs in 15 seasons
LJ – 15 playoffs in 19 seasons— Joshua J Ballard (@JoshuaJWord) April 6, 2022
— Robert J Pfeifer (@RobertJPfeifer) April 6, 2022
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How the Lakers blew their chance to make it to the playoffs?
Despite all the Lakers’ struggles, no one expected them to miss the playoffs. But then after the All-Star break, the Lakers’ slump started. They had the second-worst record in the NBA during that period. They went on a 7 game losing streak at the end of March, which officially put them out of playoff contention.
The Lakers started the season as one of the favorites to win it all. But they never created an identity as a team. Part of the reason was injuries. But that is no excuse for a team loaded with stars to miss the playoffs.
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WATCH THIS STORY: Best stories of Michael Jordan from his UNC days
The Lakers will need to regroup in the offseason and figure out how they get back to contending for the title.
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