The King is done.
Long live the King.
For the first time in his legendary career, LeBron James has lost a first-round playoff series.
James and the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers were banged up with Anthony Davis leaving Game 6 after just 5 minutes and 25 seconds of trying to play on a groin injury, and LeBron having dealt with an ankle injury in recent weeks. They were humbled by Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns, 113-100, in Game 6 at Staples Center and lost the series 4-2. James had been a perfect 14-0 in the first round prior to losing to the rising Suns, who were led by Booker’s 47 points and 11 rebounds.
“We never really got an opportunity to see our full team at full strength either because of injury or Covid or something going on with our ballclub this year, ” James said. “We could never really fully get into a rhythm this year and never really see the full potential of what we were capable of.”
Here’s a look at LeBron’s unprecedented loss By the Numbers:
1 — Number of teams remaining who made the Final Four in the Orlando bubble last summer. With the Lakers, Miami Heat and Boston Celtics all bowing out in the first round, only the Denver Nuggets remain from the teams who reached the conference finals in the bubble.
“It has been mentally draining,” James said. “Every team has to deal with it, obviously, but with us and Miami going the long haul in the bubble and then coming right back on a short notice. It’s been very draining.”
2 — The number of players with a better series record in first-round matchups than James. Robert Horry and Derek Fisher were both 16-0 in opening rounds. For comparison’s sake, Karl Malone and John Stockton were both 10-9, Michael Jordan was 10-3 and Kobe Bryant was 13-2. James is now 14-1-.
3 — James and the Lakers never led in Game 6. It was just the third time in LeBron’s career he lost a playoff game while never leading.
6 —Number of defending champions to lose in the first round under the current playoff format (beginning in 1984). The Lakers joined the 2015 Spurs (to the Clippers), the 2012 Mavericks (Thunder), the 2007 Heat (Bulls), the 2000 Spurs (Suns) and the 1984 76ers (Nets) among defending champions to fall in the first round.
14-11 — James’ record in elimination games. His Cleveland teams were 9-8 when facing elimination, his Miami teams were 5-2 and he’s now 0-1 with the Lakers.
21 — James’ teams once won 21 consecutive first-round games, a stint spanning 2012 through the start of the 2018 playoffs with Miami and Cleveland.
23.3 — James’ scoring average in this series against Phoenix. That is his lowest average in 15 career first-round matchups. He had a lower average in only two of his 49 previous playoff series; he averaged 22.0 points in Cleveland’s 2007 NBA Finals loss to San Antonio and 17.8 points in Miami’s 2011 NBA Finals loss to Dallas.
+450 — The Lakers were the 2nd favorite after the Brooklyn Nets to win the NBA title when the playoffs began. The Clippers were the 3rd favorite and if they lose Game 6 to Luka Doncic and the Mavericks Friday night, 2 of the top 3 favorites going in will be out.
The Suns, the No. 2 seed in the West, were the 7th favorite at +1500, per Caesars William Hill.
+165 — The latest odds have the Nets and their ‘Big 3’ of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden at +165 with the Jazz at +325.
The AP contributed reporting.