It’s never been this bad for the Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James.
They are on the verge of being officially eliminated from playoff contention.
This entire season has been a mess but, again and again, the team has promised fans that they were still going to make the playoffs.
If they don’t, it’ll be just the latest embarrassment for them.
With a loss and a Spurs win tonight, the Lakers would be eliminated from playoff contention.
It would be the 4th time LeBron James has missed the playoffs in his 19-year career, and the 2nd time with the Lakers. The other two times were his first two seasons, in 2003 and 2004. pic.twitter.com/GqZIDTBc9A
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 5, 2022
If the Lakers lose on Tuesday night and the San Antonio Spurs win, LA will be eliminated from playoff contention.
That would make the fourth time that James has missed the playoffs in his 19 years in the league.
It would also be his second time doing so with the Lakers.
To put this in perspective, the other two times he missed the playoffs were his first two seasons.
Here’s a terrifying thought: will James ever return to the playoffs?
The Lost Lakers
The Lakers are 31-47, sitting at the 11th spot in the West.
They have suffered their fair share of bad luck this year with a slew of injuries affecting James, Anthony Davis, Kendrick Nunn, and more.
But they have also played together enough to show that this lineup just isn’t working.
That will need to change as soon as possible because the Lakers don’t have forever with James.
The 37-year-old superstar only has a few more seasons left in him which means time is running out for the Lakers to get another ring with James.
The front office will have to do everything they can to rebuild this team with James at the center of it.
They know how embarrassing it is to have James and still miss the playoffs.
This is a fate they definitely don’t want to repeat.
NEXT: Lakers Have One Final Chance To Save Their Playoff Lives