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Lakers superstarLeBron Jameshad over a week to reflect on his team’s 2025-26 season ending with afour-game sweep to the Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals.
It was just the fourth time in James’ career – and the earliest in the playoffs – a team that had him on the roster was swept in James’ 19 appearances in the postseason.
How James saw it, the Lakers didn’t lose the series to the defending NBA champions because they didn’t match the Thunder’s physicality. Or weren’t prepared.
They simply didn’t match the Thunder in talent.
“I have the passion and the [aspiration] to host the Larry O’Brien Trophy up every single year, but also have a realization of what particular team I have been a part of in that particular year,” James said during the latest episode of his “Mind The Game” podcast, which he co-hosts withNBA legend Steve Nash. “And understanding this year, we fought and we played to the maximum ability of our team. But ultimately, if we’re being completely honest, we were out-talented.”
The Thunder were without2025 All-Star and All-NBA third team honoree Jalen Williamsduring the second round matchup.
But the Lakers had an even more significant absence: superstar guardLuka Doncic missed the Lakers’ entire postseason runbecause of aleft hamstring strain he suffered April 2 in Oklahoma City.
Doncic was the NBA’s scoring champion for the second time and three seasons, averaging 33.5 points during the regular season.
Hefinished fourth in the voting for league MVP, whichShai Gilgeous-Alexander won for the second consecutive season, and will likely be an All-NBA first team honoree for the sixth time in his eight-season NBA career.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
