Legendary superstar LeBron James will miss the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2005 as the Los Angeles Lakers were officially eliminated with a 111-106 loss to the Brooklyn Nets.
The four-time league MVP James also had his eight-year run to the NBA finals snapped on Friday night as the loss takes the lowly Lakers out of the playoff picture for a franchise-record sixth straight season.
“It is a tough season for all of us,” James said. “It is not what we signed up for.
“You don’t even try to wrap your head around it. Just keep pushing. The playoffs are never a promise, you got to put in the work.”
James had 25 points, 14 assists, and nine rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to get the victory in a tight contest that featured plenty of lead changes.
The last time the NBA’s best player wasn’t in the postseason was in 2004-05, his second season with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
James played in Friday’s contest at Staples Center Arena despite missing games recently to get rest for his lingering groin injury.