The defending champion Los Angeles Lakers are out of the playoffs in six games played against the Phoenix Suns. The Suns dropped in the series 2-1 before reeling off 3-straight victories and now head to the second round against the Denver Nuggets.
LeBron faced his first-ever first-round playoff loss in 18 years, and now the crazy think-pieces and hot takes have begun.;
Former player and current NBA analyst, Channing Frye, made a bold statement after the Lakers’ elimination from the league. He said:
“If LeBron is averaging less than 25 points a game… I think he should retire… Who are the Lakers bringing in or trading for that can put him over over the top? Have you seen the free agents? There’s nobody.”
“Rob Pelinka is the man, and has done a good job with what he can work with… He ain’t Siegfried and Roy. He ain’t bringing in the tiger. There’s nobody. It’s hard to rely on AD. AD’s one of the most unstoppable guys in the NBA at his position. Is he going to play 30 games? Is he going to play in the playoffs?”
“For me, don’t stay long enough to be the villain, and ruin all the work he’s done for 18 years,” Frye continued. “Hey, this year we tried, we’re makeshifting teams. Who’s coming back that you would want back? Nobody. So you have to start over again?”
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LeBron averaged 23.3 points per game in the short series, his fourth-lowest scoring output for a series over his career and his lowest mark since averaging 22.8 in the 2014 Eastern Conference finals.
James will be 37 years old and in his 19th season and Anthony Davis was constantly hurt this year. It can all contributed to them having the shortest offseason in NBA history after winning the title last in the bubble.
A full offseason to get better and these Lakers will likely be back stronger than ever next season.
