LeBron James, Darvin Ham futures in question after Lakers’ latest playoff struggles vs. Nuggets

The Lakers are on the verge of being swept by the Nuggets, which leads to questions about the future of the franchise.

With LeBron James leaving the court, boos rained down from the very top row of Crypto.com Arena on Thursday night.

The Los Angeles Lakers, who entered the NBA Playoffs on a roll and were looking to make noise against the Denver Nuggets, have suddenly been met with a reality that head coach Darvin Ham wished for, whether he knew it or not.

“We want all the smoke and we ain’t ducking no fades,” Ham said after they defeated the New Orleans Pelicans in the 7-seed play-in game.

Well, smoke is certainly what the Lakers have received from the Nuggets, except it’s the smoke from their own organization being on fire, with James and Anthony Davis left shaking their heads in disbelief.

The Lakers trail the Nuggets 3-0 in their first-round playoff series after losing 112-105 on Thursday night, yet another game in which Los Angeles led Denver by double-digits. Between their inability to close games and the mental strain of playing against the defending champions, the Lakers have looked like a very incomplete team after entering the postseason as one of the hottest groups in the entire NBA. After blowing leads in Game 1 and Game 2 of this series in Denver, the Lakers yet again found a way to disappoint their fans, only this time on their home floor.

Nobody said that taking down the reigning champs would be easy. For the Lakers, this was an even harder task since they entered this series after losing eight straight to Denver. That losing streak is now up to 11 straight games, and nothing James and company do ends up working. Nikola Jokic has had his way in this series, and the Nuggets are outscoring the Lakers 177-135 in the second half.

The Lakers entered this series with a ton of confidence and were ready to get revenge on the team that swept them in the Western Conference Finals last year. Now, LeBron and Davis find themselves one loss away from being swept in back-to-back playoff series at the hands of the Nuggets.

A total of 151 series in NBA playoff history have faced a scenario where a team wins the first three games. The team that does so is 151-0 all time. History is not on LeBron’s side in this one. Then again, when has history ever stopped greatness?

If there is any team that could possibly work their way back into a series after being down 3-0 in the opening round to the defending champions, it would be one led by James. But the days of LeBron single-handedly taking over games are long gone, and the NBA is no longer a league where a single individual can dominate. You must have steady play across the board, something the Lakers have learned the hard way by watching the Nuggets walk all over them the last few years.

“I think I said one time that winning is a lifestyle for us,” Jokic told reporters on Thursday evening after his team took a 3-0 lead in Los Angeles. “It’s really good when you’re winning…everybody is happy. Everybody wants to play. Everybody is buying into the system.

“I was here when we were losing, so I don’t want to go back.”

Winning is also in the blood of the Lakers organization. After all, those 17 championship banners all represent historic moments in NBA history. The fact of the matter is the Lakers have lost their touch this season. More importantly, they have lost their confidence after the Nuggets ripped out their hearts in Game 3.

Lakers’ confidence is lost
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts during the first half in game three of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Crypto.com Arena.
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
When the Lakers won the first-ever NBA In-Season Tournament, it masked the overarching problem of James and Davis being their only reliable players. Austin Reaves, D’Angelo Russell and Rui Hachimura are all talented secondary pieces, but the Nuggets have completely neutralized them since the very start of this series, making the Lakers as a whole lose confidence as each game has progressed.

Body language means everything. Whether you are winning by 10 points or trailing by 20, one’s body language always tends to tell the tale of every game. For the Lakers, their energy was high coming out of the gates in Game 3 at home. Davis and LeBron set the tone early by putting the Lakers up 14-5, followed by extending their lead to 10 points at the end of the quarter. However, the Nuggets continued to just hang around, and not once did they get down on themselves.

The same couldn’t be said for the Lakers on Thursday night, as it was very apparent that Russell and the other secondary players lacked the intensity needed to come away with this game. From Reaves’ perspective, the Nuggets simply want this series more than Los Angeles right now.

“I think Denver is just beating us to be honest,” Reaves said in his postgame availability. “You can talk about adjustments, you can talk about this and that, but at the end of the day, we gotta go put our best foot forward playing basketball games. You can talk about everything else outside the talks of everything; at the end of the day you gotta man up and go win.”

Perhaps the biggest sign the Lakers have lost confidence in themselves was what transpired with Russell in Game 3. In addition to putting up a goose egg across the board in terms of scoring, the first time Russell has been held scoreless in a game since he played just one minute against the Indiana Pacers on January 20, 2017, the Lakers’ point guard was also seen sitting on the bench by himself late in Game 3 while the rest of the team was huddled up.

Not only was Russell not in the team huddle, but he was seen on a cell phone with the Lakers trailing late in the game. The optics of this are absolutely terrible for the Lakers, but then again, it shouldn’t come as a shock, seeing as their focus hasn’t been on this series whatsoever.

James looks frustrated, Davis looks frustrated and the Lakers just simply aren’t as engaged as the Nuggets on a nightly basis. That is why this series is on the verge of being over in four games. If Los Angeles does end up being swept by Denver for the second straight season, all the questions surrounding this franchise will center on LeBron and his future in the league.

LeBron James’ upcoming offseason decision
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts during the second half in game three of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Crypto.com Arena.
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Another disappointing loss in the postseason will obviously lead to questions about James’ future in the NBA. At 39 years old and wrapping up Year 21 in the league, LeBron has nothing else to prove. James could win more championships, but his legacy as one of the greatest players in league history will never be changed. The end of the road is coming, but LeBron is going to be the one to decide when he is ready to call it quits.

Based on what he has said throughout the course of the 2023-24 season, as well as Bronny James possibly entering the league via the 2024 NBA Draft, it doesn’t appear as if LeBron is ready to retire. This is the general sense around the league as well, with many anticipating James giving much more thought to the idea of retiring after his 40th birthday. Of course, a lot factors into James’ decision whether to continue his basketball career.

Does he truly want to play with Bronny, a prospect he’s discussed countless times but recently walked back, when the young James begins his NBA journey? Does LeBron want to retire as a Laker, or are there other friends he wants to play alongside before the end of his career? Most importantly, is LeBron still of the belief that the Lakers value winning right now over focusing on their future without him?

These are three major factors that will influence what happens with James in the offseason, as he has a major contractual decision to make.

Once the Lakers are eliminated from the postseason, which could be this upcoming weekend, the focus for this organization shifts to what LeBron does with his $51.4 million player option. Despite being in the final years of his career, James would still hit the free agency market as the best name available, with various teams vying for his services. Again, whether or not rival teams would have a realistic chance of landing him depends on the reasons why James could potentially opt out.

It is possible James restructures his current deal, signing another “1+1” type of contract in order to give the Lakers some flexibility if they were looking to pull off a big offseason move. Insert the “trade for Donovan Mitchell or Trae Young” takes here. Then, there is the possibility of James opting out in order to truly pursue his one-time dream of playing with Bronny, assuming his son remains in the 2024 NBA Draft.

The fact of the matter is that LeBron will have teams wanting to sign or trade for him if he wishes to leave the Lakers, one of which may come as a surprise to many. As crazy as it sounds, James leaving the Lakers to join the Golden State Warriors is not crazy whatsoever.

After being sworn enemies for years, James has developed great relationships with both Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. He is also best friends with Chris Paul, whom the Warriors will need to make a decision on entering the offseason. Curry and James have always talked about playing alongside one another, and they will get the chance to do so this summer for Team USA during the 2024 Olympics in Paris. There will no doubt be some interesting conversations had behind closed doors.

Staying in the Western Conference, the Phoenix Suns are another team worth talking about. Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal are walking a very thin line in their first-round series with the Minnesota Timberwolves right now, and the Suns clearly need a point guard. Throw James on that team, and all of a sudden, they may be better than the 2016-17 and 2017-18 Warriors teams that Durant was a part of. The New Orleans Pelicans and Memphis Grizzlies would obviously look to throw their names in the hat for James if he were available, but neither are seen as realistic landing spots for the 20-time All-Star in any scenario.

Over in the Eastern Conference, the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks stand out as teams James could be interested in. The Sixers will have the ability to free up the most cap space out of any team in the league this season, and the Knicks have long been linked to James, dating back to when he made his decision to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers for the first time in 2010 to join the Miami Heat. Speaking of the Heat, you can’t rule out a reunion there, either, despite LeBron and Pat Riley having a love-hate relationship. A return to the Cleveland Cavaliers is always going to be brought up for James as well should he look to leave the Lakers.

If LeBron wants out of Los Angeles, there is going to be a lot of noise surrounding the possibility of him joining the Warriors. This scenario was explored by Golden State’s braintrust ahead of the trade deadline, and owner Joe Lacob is dedicated to winning as many championships as he can before Curry retires. LeBron wants to win right now and have fun doing so. Nothing would break the internet more than James taking his talents to the Bay Area and retiring alongside Curry with a championship.

Alas, nothing is certain. Nobody truly knows what James is feeling right now, and nobody knows if he wants to remain with the Lakers. The only thing that is known is that LeBron isn’t happy with the way things have gone against the Nuggets.

How LeBron James can surpass Michael Jordan as NBA GOAT, per Dwight Howard

Dwight Howard recently got 100% real on the LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan NBA GOAT debate amid the Lakers’ playoff series.

There are no shortage of various arguments when it comes to the greatest of all-time (GOAT) conversation in the NBA. Either LeBron James or Michael Jordan are typically mentioned as the GOAT,

with many fans, players, and analysts often passionately taking one side. Dwight Howard recently shared his thoughts on the NBA GOAT debate, via Howard’s X (formerly Twitter) account.

“MJ is the GOAT,” Howard said in a video that was shared on Thursday.

“But if LeBron and the Lakers get past Denver this year and they happen to win the championship, LeBron gotta be the GOAT. Think about what he did this season. He got 40,000 points (for his career), he got over 11,000 rebounds, 11,000 assists. He’ll come back from being 10th, 11th, 12th place, and then they come back and win? Oh Lord… GOAT.”

The video was shared before the Lakers lost 112-105 in Game 3 to the Denver Nuggets. Denver now holds a 3-0 lead, and it will require a historic effort for Los Angeles to fight back and win the series.

Is it possible? Sure, but it is quite unlikely. Of course, counting LeBron James and Anthony Davis out is always a risky thing to do.

LeBron James continues to make GOAT case
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) controls the ball against the Denver Nuggets during the second half in game three of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Crypto.com Arena.
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Michael Jordan’s six championships help his GOAT case without question. Jordan’s ability to come through in clutch moments was incredible. He played a pivotal role in leading the Chicago Bulls’ dynasty in the 1990’s.

LeBron has won four championships with three different teams. He left the Cleveland Cavaliers and formed a super-team with the Miami Heat, and Miami won two championships as a result. James later returned to Cleveland and led the Cavs to a championship in 2016.

James would later win one more championship with the Lakers. The question is whether or not he can win another in his career. At 39 years old, LeBron probably does not have too many years remaining in the NBA. With that being said, James is still playing at a high level and could help a team reach the NBA Finals.

Although, the odds of it happening in this year’s playoffs are slim at the moment.

From purely a statistical perspective, however, LeBron James does have a legitimate GOAT case.

Jordan finished his career with 32,292 points. LeBron is already at 40,474. James is the all-time leading scorer in NBA history.

Nikola Jokic after Nuggets takes 3-0 series lead over Lakers: ‘Winning is a lifestyle for us’

The Nuggets dominating the Lakers — and the entire NBA — isn’t an overnight success story.

Facing the Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets seems like a nightmare that the Los Angeles Lakers cannot wake up from.

In 2023, the Nuggets were responsible for sweeping the Lakers and ending their season in the Western Conference Finals.

This season, the Nuggets are on the brink of doing the same thing they did last year. With their win Thursday night, the Nuggets take a 3-0 series lead over the Lakers. The win also marked the Nuggets’ 11th straight win over the Lakers.

Jokic, who was drafted in 2014, has been with the Nuggets long enough to see when things weren’t going as good for the team. The Nuggets’ success was built over time, and Jokic was a part of that building process. But now it seems like the Nuggets have built a juggernaut of a team. All the winning and success is something that Jokic and his teammates enjoy. It has also become the norm for them.

“I think I said one time that winning is a lifestyle for us,” Jokic said. “It’s really good when you’re winning…everybody is happy. Everybody wants to play. Everybody is buying into the system… I was here when we were losing, so I don’t want to go back.”

Nuggets taking commanding 3-0 series lead over Lakers

Fans in Denver may want to find their brooms, as the Nuggets are potentially on the brink of sweeping the Lakers again. The defending champions fell into a double-deficit hole early in Game 3. Playing in front of their home crowd, the Lakers were playing inspired. But the tenacious defending champs never hit the panic button. The Nuggets would end up getting the win, 112-105.

“That is a character win,” Nuggets head coach Michael Malone said postgame. “The way they [Lakers] started the game, first timeout I told our group ‘That is exactly what I expected.’ They came out gangbusters. They played great and had us on our heels, and the crowd was into it.”

Four of the five Nuggets starters would end the night with over 20 points. Aaron Gordon would have a playoff career-high 29 points and 15 points. Nikola Jokic was also close to another triple-double with 24 points, 15 rebounds, and nine assists. While last year’s Nuggets playoff squad earned a championship, Malone believes this year’s squad, which boasts mostly the same players as last season, is even more confident than last year.

“There is a confidence that comes with being a champion. There is a confidence with our starting five,” Malone said. “That starting group, they’ve been through a lot of wars. They’re battle-tested. Every time we get down, we don’t panic, we stay the course, and we find a way to get back in the game.”

Kevіn Hаrvick: ‘The beѕt thіng I’ve ѕeen thіs yeаr іs Mіchael Jordаn іn vіctory lаne’

Mаtt Stаmey-USA TODAY Sрorts

Lаst week аt Tаllаdegа, the world got to wаtch аs Mіchael Jordаn mаde hіs fіrst іn-person trіp to NASCAR victory lаne. It wаs а moment thаt рut NASCAR іnto the рoр сulture ѕpotlight, wіth mentіons on network ѕportѕ ѕhowѕ, ESPN, аnd elѕewhere іn the medіa.

Kevіn Hаrvick ѕayѕ thаt MJ іn vіctory lаne іs the beѕt thіng he’ѕ ѕeen аll yeаr. Hаrvick knowѕ whаt NASCAR сan be when the enthuѕiaѕm іs behіnd іt. Hаving ѕomeone lіke Jordаn аs а vіsіble fаce іn the ѕport сan only leаd to good thіngs.

On hіs  Hаppy Hour  рodcast, Hаrvick exрlained whаt іt meаnt to hаve Jordаn there аt Tаllаdegа. He аlso hаd а lіttle to ѕay аbout Tyler Reddіck.

“The beѕt thіng thаt I’ve ѕeen thіs yeаr іs Mіchael Jordаn іn vіctory lаne, аnd beіng аble to ѕee hіs own сar wіn,” Hаrvick ѕaid. “I thіnk аs muсh effort аnd tіme thаt he hаs рut іn to be аble to аctuаlly рhysically be there іn vіctory lаne wаs а wіn for everybody on hіs teаm, everybody іnvolved, everybody іn thіs ѕport. Beсause Mіchael Jordаn, you сould heаr the рassion аnd enthuѕiaѕm thаt he hаs for thіs ѕport when Jаmie Lіttle іntervіewed hіm аfterwаrds.

 

“Aѕide from Mіchael beіng there, Tyler Reddіck, he knowѕ thаt he ѕhould be wіnnіng. He knowѕ thаt he hаs the ѕpeed to wіn. He knowѕ thаt he hаs hаd а сouple of oррortunities to be іn рosition to wіn thіs yeаr аnd they hаven’t won, аnd thіs tіme they’re іn рosition to wіn аnd wіn а rаce thаt they рrobably dіdn’t thіnk they were goіng to wіn untіl 100, 200 yаrds to go.

“So, you сan feel the emotіon from Tyler Reddіck аnd juѕt the relіef to get thаt сar іnto vіctory lаne, аnd I lіke thаt. I love the fіre аnd the рassion аnd enthuѕiaѕm. Week before I dіdn’t thіnk he dіd а very good job. Cloѕing thаt rаce out аt Texаs he got fruѕtrated on а сouple of reѕtartѕ, mаde three or four mіstakes аnd loѕt ѕeveral рositions, сame bаck wіth а deсent fіnіsh. But he’ѕ drіvіng аnd аcting lіke he exрects to wіn every ѕingle week. Thаt рressure thаt сomes wіth thаt іs tough to nаvigаte untіl you’ve been іn the mіddle of іt. When you аre іn the mіddle of thаt аnd wіn, іt іs а huge relіef.”

 

Kevіn Hаrvick underѕtandѕ рressure. Mіchael Jordаn underѕtandѕ рressure. Durіng hіs drіvіng сareer, Hаrvick wіthstood аll kіnds of рressure. From Dаle Eаrnhаrdt’s deаth to hіs wіnless ѕtreak аt RCR аnd of сourse, wіnnіng the 2014 Cuр сhampionship. Hаrvick hаs аn іnterest іn Reddіck, too.

Both Hаrvick аnd Reddіck аre Cаliforniа guyѕ. They both hаve а рassion for the ѕport thаt you rаrely ѕee іn other drіvers. I thіnk Hаrvick ѕeeѕ the рotential іn Reddіck аnd wаnts to ѕee іt ѕhine.

Paul Pierce Suggests LeBron James Could’ve Voted Him as NBA’s GOAT in Player Poll

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

One person voted for ex-Boston Celtics legend (and Basketball Hall of Famer) Paul Pierce as the game’s greatest of all time in The Athletic’s recent anonymous poll of NBA players.

As good as Pierce is, this is very likely his first public inclusion into the GOAT conversation, which has largely been populated by Michael Jordan (who received 45.9 percent of the vote) and LeBron James (42.1 percent).

During an appearance on Tuesday’s edition of FS1’s Undisputed show with Keyshawn Johnson and Skip Bayless, Pierce was asked about the vote, alongside a query on who he thought voted for him (h/t Brandon Contes of Awful Announcing).

“Hey Skip, Key, sometimes it’s not always everything you do on the court, but off the court too that makes you the GOAT,” Pierce said.

“Hey, it’s a combination of things that can put you in the GOAT conversation buddy…Don’t hate the player, hate the game, you know what I’m saying?”

Soon afterward, Pierce brought up James’ name unprompted.

“What if LBJ voted for me? I played against him, he must think something. What do you think about that? What do you think about that? We had a lot of battles. Come on now, we had some tough battles. We had some tough battles. It could have been LB.”

Johnson then said that he held his own, and Pierce said he agreed (until he got old).

The C’s and James’ Cleveland Cavaliers (and later Miami Heat) absolutely had some battles. Boston beat Cleveland four games to three in the 2008 Eastern Conference semifinals and 4-2 in the 2010 East semis. James then left for the Heat, who beat the C’s in the 2011 East semis and 2012 East finals.

Pierce held his own against one of the game’s all-time legends. He’s not the GOAT, but he had a great career in his own right, making 10 All-Star teams and four All-NBA teams. Pierce also made the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.

NBA analyst argues Lakers feel the heat as Jokic becomes West’s new kingpin

LeBron James must be tired of the Denver Nuggets. Nikola Jokic and his boys have dominated James’ Lakers, winning their last 10 matchups. That includes a sweep of last year’s Western Conference finals and the gut-wrenching Game 2 win in the first round earlier this week. Jokic is an unstoppable force tormenting the league and his Nuggets seem even more inevitable against James and the Lakers.

FOX Sports NBA analyst Rachel Nichols said on “Undisputed” that James should be all too familiar with the Nuggets’ domination in the Western Conference due to his past domination of the East.

“LeBron James is getting a taste of his own medicine,” Nichols said. “All of those years he played in the Eastern Conference when he played for Cleveland and Miami we kept calling the Finals the LeBron James invitational because no one else had a shot in the conference, no one else is getting there. That is what is happening with Nikola Jokic right now.”

Jokic is primed to win his third MVP. He is the straw that stirs the drink for the Nuggets. However, the pieces around him complement him perfectly in ways that James’ Cavaliers teams never did for James. Nichols acknowledged Jokic’s supporting cast in her take.

“The team that is built around him and the way they function, especially as games continue, they all know what they are supposed to do at the end of games,” Nichols added.”Jamal Murray obviously knows what he is supposed to do. Nikola Jokic cleared out the rest of those players on that last shot by Jamal Murray. Jokic had a hand in that play as well. This is exactly what LeBron used to do to everyone else.”Expand TweetLeBron James explains mentality going into Game 3

LeBron James is no stranger to heartbreaking postseason losses. Nothing could be worse than J.R. Smith’s scoring error in Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals.

In Game 2 against the Nuggets, however, the 21-year-old veteran found it difficult to digest Jamal Murray’s buzzer-beating shot.

He and his Lakers squad will need to bounce back quickly to stay in this series. James explained his mindset going into Game 3.

“Protect home. That’s where my mindset goes,” James said. “Obviously the only game that matters now is Game 3 and how we can get better, how we can figure this team out. So Game 3 is where my mindset is.”

It will take a short memory, although the final scene of Game 2 may never be erased from the minds of the Lakers players after they controlled most of the game.

The Lakers will go back home for Game 3 to try and end the 10-game winning streak for Denver in the series. The game tips off at 10 pm ET on Thursday, April 24.

The Camera Accidentally Recorded The Daily Life Of Lebron James’ Family In The $35 Million Mansion – 3 Children Became The Center Of Attention With Adorable Moment

In a serendipitous twist, a camera accidentally captured the candid images of basketball icon LeBron James and his family as they enjoyed a vacation at their suburban villa. Join us in this exclusive journey as we explore the heartwarming scenes that unfolded, with LeBron’s three 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren taking center stage with their adorable and memorable moments.

The Tranquil Suburban Villa Delve into the tranquil setting of LeBron James’ suburban villa, where the family retreats to find solace and create lasting memories. Discover the picturesque surroundings, luxurious amenities, and the intimate moments that make this retreat a haven for the James family.

The Accidental Image Capture Learn the story behind the accidental recording that brought to light the private moments of joy and connection within the James family. The candid nature of the images provides a genuine glimpse into the daily life of one of the most celebrated families in sports.

The Three Children Stealing the Spotlight Witness the endearing moments as LeBron James’ three 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren take the spotlight. From playful activities in the backyard to shared laughter around the dinner table, explore the unique personalities of each 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 and the bond that unites them in these precious family moments.

Adorable Scenes of Sibling Camaraderie Get an inside look at the heartwarming interactions between LeBron James’ 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren. Whether engaged in friendly competitions or offering support to one another, these images capture the essence of sibling camaraderie that defines their family dynamic.

The Essence of Family Happiness Through the accidental camera capture, experience the genuine happiness radiating from LeBron James and his family. These images showcase that, beyond the basketball court, the true victories lie in the shared laughter, love, and moments of togetherness that define the James family experience.

In this serendipitous peek into LeBron James’ family vacation, we discover a world where fame and success take a backseat to the simple joys of family life. The accidental images not only capture the essence of familial happiness but also serve as a reminder that, for LeBron James, the most cherished victories are those achieved within the circle of his loved ones.

Can LeBron James, Lakers make history facing 2-0 deficit in NBA playoffs?

(NBAE via Getty Images)

For the second straight year, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers are staring down a 2-0 series deficit against the Denver Nuggets, who are once again favored to win Game 3 on Thursday.

And history says even The King will be hard-pressed to dethrone the defending champions.

Entering the first round of the 2024 NBA playoffs, teams trailing 2-0 in a postseason series had won just 33 times in 449 tries. That’s a 7.3% win percentage for teams that lose the first two games of a series, which drops to 6.6% for those down 2-0 in the first round.

Incredibly, James helped lead three of those 33 comeback efforts, though his Lakers went down in four games in last year’s Western Conference Finals – just the third time he’d been swept in his postseason career.

A year later, the NBA’s all-time scoring leader needs another miracle after falling down 2-0 to the Nuggets on Monday, when Los Angeles blew a 20-point lead in Game 2 and ceded a shot at the buzzer in a crushing 101-99 loss.

JAMAL MURRAY STEPS BACK AND HITS THE #TISSOTBUZZERBEATER 🤯🤯🤯NUGGETS COMEBACK FROM DOWN 20 TO TAKE A 2-0 SERIES LEAD!#YourTimeDefinesYourGreatness https://t.co/3dkn1H1YYR pic.twitter.com/vXXkZPEn01

— NBA (@NBA) April 23, 2024

It’s the first time James has ever faced a 2-0 series deficit in the first round and just the 10th time overall in 54 career postseason series.

Here’s a look at how he’s fared in those previous nine series:

What is LeBron James’ all-time record down 2-0 in NBA playoffs?

Entering the 2024 NBA playoffs, James has won three of nine postseason series (3-6) when his team loses the first two games.

The first such series came in his first playoff run in 2006, when the Cleveland Cavaliers rallied from a 2-0 series deficit before losing Game 7 to the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

A year later, those two met in the second round once again, and the Cavaliers dropped the first two games by three points apiece to the top-seeded Pistons.

That’s when James announced himself as an eventual all-time great. The 22-year-old averaged 31.3 points, 9.8 rebounds and 8.8 assists over the next four games – including a 48-point masterpiece in Game 5, when he scored Cleveland’s final 25 points – to survive the second round and eventually reach his first NBA Finals.

 

The Cavaliers were swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2007 NBA Finals, and they couldn’t erase a 2-0 deficit against the Boston Celtics in the 2008 Eastern Conference Finals.

James wouldn’t face another 0-2 hole until eight years later, when he engineered the greatest postseason comeback in NBA history.

Cleveland lost the first two games of the 2016 NBA Finals and was staring down a 3-1 series deficit against the Golden State Warriors, who had won an NBA-record 73 games in the regular season.

No matter for James and Co., who promptly won the next two games before outlasting the Warriors in a Game 7 for the ages.

 

The Cavaliers lost to the Warriors in a similar spot in the 2017 NBA Finals, though they erased a 2-0 deficit against the Celtics a year later before getting swept by Golden State in the 2018 NBA Finals.

He didn’t face another such deficit until last year, when he was swept for the first time prior to the NBA Finals in that conference finals loss to Denver.

While James owns a losing record when his team drops the first two games of a series, that isn’t so bad when compared to the 30-407 series record for every other team in that spot across NBA history.

For comparison? Michael Jordan was 0-5 in his postseason career when his team lost the first two games of the series, including an 0-2 record in best-of-seven matchups.

Has LeBron James ever been swept in the NBA playoffs?

James has been swept three times in his postseason career, most recently against the Nuggets in the 2023 Western Conference Finals.

That was the only time that James has ever lost the first three games of a series – let alone four – outside of the NBA Finals.

James was swept by the Spurs in his first championship appearance in 2007, and his Cavaliers lost in four games to the Warriors in 2018 – the fourth consecutive NBA Finals matchup between those two teams.

As Travis Kelce has planned the return of his music festival, Kelce Jam, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end said he learned to ‘not try and be Taylor’ after spending the last several months in a whirlwind romance with Taylor Swift.

Kelce attended several shows of ‘The Eras Tour’ which has been Swift’s global, record-setting stadium run.

Swift has had shows in Argentina, Singapore, and Australia attended by Kelce.

‘Don’t try and be Taylor, that’s what I learned,’ Kelce said. ‘Yeah, she’s on a whole other stratosphere. She’s the best at what she does for a reason. It’s because she’s so articulate and just very dialed into every single thing that she does.

‘And that’s the beauty of it. I’d be silly if I ever tried to take anything from what she does, other than just enjoy the people that show up. I think that’s one thing I could probably take away: She really relates to the people she’s performing in front of, and so I’ll take that,’ Kelce continued.

 

 

Swift also had a major presence at Kelce’s games throughout the season, attending 13

Swift has performed on her worldwide tour for over a year before wrapping this December

Travis Kelce joked he will not try to emulate Swift in planning his music festival, Kelce Jam

Swift also had a large presence at Kelce’s game this season.

The 14-time Grammy Award winner attended 13 Chiefs games this season, with the team holding a 10-3 record in those games.

Swift was in attendance at all four Chiefs playoff victories, all taking place in different cities.

Lil Wayne, Diplo and 2 Chainz are the headlining artists for the second-annual Kelce Jam.

Swift does not have a show on the ‘Eras Tour’ on May 18, but will be performing in Portugal on May 24 and 25.

A report from Us Weeklyclaims that Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are preparing to take the next big step in their relationship: moving in together.

 

 

The report shares that the couple are discussing “living together full-time”. But for two busy people with schedules that take them all of the country, and for Swift, the world, what does that look like?

According to the publication, during Kelce’s football season they would live at his house in Kansas City, Missouri. During off-season, they would then split their time between Swift’s New York City and Los Angeles homes.

A source told the outlet that, despite speculation, “there’s no rush [to get engaged]”. The pair are “having so much fun and enjoying things […] it’s a very healthy relationship. Things are very serious, and they’re both thinking of the next steps.”

The couple were recently spotted on vacation in the Bahamas, and have been spending time together in Los Angeles whilst Swift is on a break from her Eras Tour and Kelce is not training for the NFL season.

The same source said the pair plan to go away soon before Swift’s tour starts again in May and Kelce has to go back to Kansas City in late April.

“They’re planning on getting away again soon,” that source said. “They want peace and quiet. They’ve talked about Aspen and Lake Tahoe because it’s easier for them to go somewhere in the U.S. untracked.”

Another source said they also plan to go to Coachella, saying “They both want to see Lana Del Rey and [Jack Antonoff’s band] Bleachers,” as the two musicians are good friends with the couple.

Whilst, understandably, the pair haven’t shared their summer plans publicly, Kelce did say in an interview with Entertainment Tonight that he would be travelling with Swift in Europe to attend some of her shows.

“Man, I’ll tell you what. The London shows, I think she’s at Wembley eight times, which is mind-blowing that she can do that many shows in one stadium and fill that thing up,” he said. “I played at Wembley once, and I don’t even think we filled that thing up.”