LeBron James scored 40 points in Game 4 but not like that Los Angeles Lakers were able to avoid the painful and historic sweep of the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Western Conference Finals. As happens in great victories, also in the most resounding defeats, the cameras and the signs go with the names of the greatest weight and Charles Barkley took aim at the 38-year-old legend.
“This sweep stains the career of LeBron James forever, and it will be the ghost that haunts him throughout his career. You have had a season in which you have become the top scorer of all time and now they paint your face like that in a Conference Finals,” said the legendary former Suns basketball player in his role as a commentator for the TNT network.
But Barkley did not stop there and put his finger even more into LeBron’s wound: “This is the trigger to affirm that He cannot be considered the best player in history. The GOAT can’t have a losing record in the Finals, much less eat multiple sweeps in the Conference Finals. He is one of the best in history, but he may not be the best”, concluded Barkley emphatically.
LeBron James played a great game but it was not enough for the Lakers.
How many sweeps has LeBron James suffered in his career?
Beyond the tastes of each one, the criticism of Charles Barkley against a figure the size of LeBron Jameswhich follows more than valid at age 38 and just a few months ago it became the top scorer of all time.
In his 20 years as a professional, LeBron had already suffered other painful sweeps, although both defending the jersey of Cleveland Cavaliers.
1
NBA Finals 2007
Spurs 4 vs Cavaliers 0
LeBron James scored 24 points, gave 10 assists and had 6 rebounds in the close victory of the Spurs of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginóbili who took Game 4 by 83 to 82 to close the series with a historic sweep and get the fourth ring for the Texan franchise.
2
NBA Finals 2018
Warriors 4 vs Cavaliers 0
In one of the most important rivalries of the last decade between franchises and between two basketball players, in 2018 it was the turn of Stephen Curry’s Warriors to celebrate despite LeBron’s 23 points. There were four consecutive finals with three rings for Golden State and one for Cleveland but the 2017-2018 season included a sweep that was as surprising as it was shocking.
3
Western Conference Finals 2023
Nuggets 4 vs Lakers 0
The Lakers had just given the big blow against the Golden State Warriors but the Nuggets of a huge Nikola Jokic were too much and not even LeBron’s 40 points were enough to give the Angelenos another life against the best team in the regular season that dreams of the first title of its history.
LeBron James misses on the last play and the Nuggets sweep the Lakers
with the party 113-111 in favor of the Nuggets and four seconds to playLeBron James took charge of the last ball of the game, the one that could send Game 4 to overtime and give the Lakers one more life or could carry out the sweep of Denver to get into the Finals for the first time in history. the nba.
LeBron received the ball and attacked the basket and against the mark of two rivals with all his power but the Nuggets’ mark was very effective and between Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon blocked his waythe horn sounded and the Nuggets celebrated the pass to the grand final against the winner of the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics.
LeBron James questions his future and shocks the NBA
LeBron Jamesremoved with Los Angeles Lakers in the final of the West for the Denver Nuggets (4-0), left questions about your future and a cryptic message in the press conference after the fourth and final meeting (111-113).
“It was a pretty cool ride (this season). But I don’t know, I don’t know. I don’t like to say it was a successful year because I don’t play for anything other than winning championships. at this point in my career (…). It’s not fun for me not to be able to be part of the Finals, “she argued in the last question of the appearance.
“But we’ll see, we’ll see. We’ll see what happens later. I don’t know, I don’t know. I have a lot to think about, to be honest, I have a lot to think about. Just personally moving forward with the sport of basketball, I have a lot to think about,” he added before closing the press conference.
These statements caused a stir on social networks and ESPN journalist Dave McMenamin later spoke with LeBron to clarify what he meant and copied the following transcript on his Twitter account:
– Question: When you said that you wanted to think about things, what thread should we take out of all this?
– Answer: If I want to continue playing.
– Q: In the next year?
– A: Yes.
– Q: Would you leave it?
– A: I have to think about it.
LeBron James was able to send the game to overtime but the Denver Nuggets closed all the paths.
2023-05-23 14:18:04
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