The last time LeBron James missed the NBA Finals, Deron Williams and Joe Johnson were still All-Stars, the “Twilight” series was still going strong in theaters nationwide and planking was an internet sensation. In other words, it’s been quite some time.
While James almost surely has enough to lead the Lakers to their first playoff appearance since the 2012-13 season, everything would have to go right for him to make his ninth consecutive trip to the NBA Finals, which would be tie him for the second-longest Finals streak in NBA history. At eight straight Finals appearances, James currently has the longest active streak in the NBA by four years.