NBA
How many times has LeBron James been swept in the playoffs?
The Lakers are staring down the barrel of a 4-0 defeat to the Denver Nuggets as they return to Los Angeles on Saturday.
LeBron James and the LA Lakers have endured a miserable playoff journey so far, falling to a 3-0 series deficit against the Denver Nuggets. The Lakers could only secure seventh seed in the West and have looked second-best against a strong Nuggets team.
They return to Crypto.com Arena on Saturday, facing the prospect of a 4-0 series sweep in the first round of the postseason. The Lakers were swept by the Nuggets last year, although that loss came in the Western Conference Finals.
Historically speaking, it would not be a major surprise to see the Lakers eliminated via a clean sweep loss. No team in NBA has been swept more often than the LA Lakers, who have lost 11 playoffs series without recording a single win. Despite that unenviable record, the Lakers are tied with the Boston Celtics (both 17) for the most NBA championships.
Has LeBron James ever been swept in the playoffs before?
LeBron James, now 39, has seen almost everything in his 21-year NBA career. The four-time NBA Most Valuable Player has enjoyed huge success but he has also experienced real lows, including being swept in the playoffs.
LeBron’s first sweeping happen at the 2007 NBA Finals, when his Cleveland Cavaliers suffered a 4-0 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. He avoided that fate for more than a decade, until his Cavs were swept by the all-conquering Golden State Warriors team of Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson.
Most recently, his Lakers were on the wrong end of a 4-0 series loss to the Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals.
With that loss fresh in Lakers’ minds, they may need an inspirational performance from LeBron to push this series into a fifth game. In front of a home crowd that is not beyond them, but could they manage a sensational turnaround?
Well, the history books say no. No team in NBA history has ever come back from a 3-0 series deficit. Four teams who found themselves in that position have managed to get the series back to 3-3 but all four of them have gone on to lose the all-important seventh game. Slim chances for the Lakers, but an opportunity for LeBron to add another record to his incredible NBA career.