Los Angeles star LeBron James saw his season come to a premature end last night at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The No.3 seeded Lakers lost shockingly in 5 games to the Wolves. The performance of James was not a big reason why the team lost, but will cause an offseason of soul-searching for all parties.
The Lakers forward never reached top gear in a do-or-die Game 5. He finished with 22 points on 9-of-21 shooting from the field. He also shot 20% from the three-point line and 50% from the charity stripe. James looked tired at times on Wednesday night. Not like his vintage self. That is to be expected from a 40-year-old player with the most minutes in league history. The playoff loss begs to question if a fifth NBA title is in the future of LeBron James.
LeBron James Was Let Down In NBA Playoffs
When the Los Angeles Lakers pulled off the blockbuster trade for Luka Doncic, it was expected the Mavericks star would take the lead role. That was not the case in the series against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Doncic, shockingly, was one of the main reasons the Lakers will be watching the playoffs at home. During James’ tenure in Los Angeles, he has struggled to find a reliable co-star. The series against Minnesota was another example of that.
James had not had much playoff success lately. He has been eliminated in 5 games or less in his last three playoff series. He is also 2-12 in his last 14 playoff games. Even though LBJ has continued performing well in the NBA Playoffs, it has not translated to on-court success. These last few postseasons have illustrated that James can no longer lead a team to a championship. Instead, he needs to play a secondary role to Doncic. That was the plan when Anthony Davis was with the team, but he never fulfilled that role.
Final Thoughts
The odds of James winning another championship are virtually zero. It is not because of his performance, but the state of the team. The Lakers roster needs a massive overhaul. That was on full display against Minnesota. One of the reasons Doncic was traded to the Lakers was his lack of conditioning and poor work ethic. Those things can never be said about James, but as the oldest player in the league, his best days are behind.
LBJ played at an All-NBA level this year and was in MVP consideration until a groin injury sidelined him for a few weeks. With each passing year, James’ ability to hold off “Father Time” becomes more remarkable. The Los Angeles Lakers wasted another great season from the all-time great as his championship window has slammed shut. The only way the window can reopen is if Los Angeles makes another seismic trade or if he asks to be traded. Neither option seems probable.
