LeBron James aka “The L-Train” is the definition of a champion, having won titles with every NBA team he’s played for since his debut in 2003. James is widely regarded as one of the greatest players and playmakers of all time, with the most playing time in NBA history, continually setting records and providing amazing performances.
Even the best athletes experience setbacks, as his recent shocking loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night served as a reminder that in sports, unpredictability is the only constant.
LeBron James experiences biggest NBA defeat
LeBron James has suffered the biggest defeat of his NBA career. The legendary basketball player and the Los Angeles Lakers fell to the Philadelphia 76ers 94-138. Since making his North American League debut in 2003, he has never trailed by 44 points.
“What has to change so that this doesn’t happen again? A lot,” the 38-year-old remarked following a performance in which he failed to pull down a single rebound and never really engaged in a confrontation with Joel Embiid on the opposing team.
The most valuable player (MVP) from the previous season, Joel Embiid, outplayed the Lakers to such an extent that, in just three quarters, he recorded a so-called triple double—30 points, 11 assists, and 11 rebounds—and he didn’t even play in the fourth quarter. In spite of this, the 76ers won the last quarter 40:14.
There has never been a more pronounced loss for the NBA record-holders in the 290 duels between the 76ers and the Lakers. The fact that James has surpassed former Lakers player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA’s player with the most minutes played in history is still a minor point of contention.
Embiid’s triple-double sets stage for Sixers’ record rout
On Monday, Joel Embiid recorded his sixth triple double in his NBA career to help Philadelphia defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 138-94. With his career-high 30 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists, the Cameroonian helped hand LeBron James the most crushing defeat. Embiid converted nine of his fifteen field goals, including two of his three three-pointers, and sank ten of his twelve free throw attempts.
“You’re trying to play winning basketball,” Embiid said. “When my teammates are wide open, I want to get them easy shots, just make the game easy for myself.” The 76ers made 22 three-pointers, one short of the club record, as the 29-year-old, seven-foot-tall NBA Most Valuable Player of the previous season recorded his first triple double of the season in three quarters.
What are your thoughts on the Sixers defeating the Lakers Monday night? Feel free to share with us in the comments below.
