LeBron James becomes NBA’s all-time leader in minutes played in Lakers’ lopsided loss to 76ers
Dave McMenamin
ESPN Staff Writer
Nov 28, 2023, 12:21 AM ET
3 Minute Read
PHILADELPHIA — LeBron James made history on Monday as he became the NBA’s all-time leader in minutes played during the Los Angeles Lakers’ 138-94 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. Playing a total of 30 minutes in the game, James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s total minutes with 66,319 minutes in his career, including both regular-season and postseason games.
However, the milestone was overshadowed by the Lakers’ 44-point loss, which was the largest of James’ 21-year career and tied for the fifth largest in Lakers history. The defeat marks a disappointing start to the season for the team, which now holds a 10-8 overall record and a 3-6 record on the road.
During the post-game press conference, James downplayed his achievement, stating, “That doesn’t mean much to me.” Instead, he expressed his frustration with the loss, stating, “We got killed on the 3-point line today.”
The Lakers’ main rotation players were pulled from the game early in the fourth quarter, with the team already trailing by 27 points. Speaking about the need for change, James said, “What needs to change in order for that not to happen again? Um, a lot.”
The loss was characterized by poor defensive performance from the Lakers and a lack of cohesion. Reacting to the defeat, Lakers big man Anthony Davis said, “Feel like we just weren’t together.”
The Sixers capitalized on the Lakers’ weaknesses, making a season-best 22 3-pointers on 46 attempts while the Lakers struggled with just 7-for-25 (25%) from deep.
The Lakers are now set to face the Detroit Pistons and the Oklahoma City Thunder in upcoming road games. Lakers coach Darvin Ham emphasized the need for the team’s competitive spirit to be at a high level.
As the Lakers grapple with the disappointing loss, James was candid in admitting his dislike for the blowout defeat. In the face of uncertainty, the Lakers will need to regroup and refocus to bounce back from their recent setback.