With a 111-106 loss to D’Angelo Russell and the Brooklyn Nets, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers were officially eliminated from playoff contention for a sixth consecutive season.
As the former No. 2 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, Russell’s 21 points and 13 assists eliminated the team that traded him after just his second season in Los Angeles.
Considering the circumstances, it was poetic justice for Russell and his supporters. However, the 23-year-old remained focused on the team’s goal of making the playoffs.
“It sounds good on paper, but at the end of the day, we’re not playing them,” Russell said of being the team to effectively end the Lakers’ season.