LeBron mulls Lakers-Thunder gap: 'Out-talented'
Key takeaways
- "And understanding this year, we fought and we played to the maximum ability of our team.
- The No. 4 seed Lakers played the top-seeded Thunder in the conference semifinals after beating the fifth-seeded Houston Rockets in the first round.
- "We were not outworked, they didn't out physical us, they didn't outsmart us," James said of the Thunder.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Having had more than a week to process the Los Angeles Lakers' second-round playoff exit against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, Le Bron James said the result came down to a talent gap between the two teams, more than anything else.
"I have the passion and the admiration to hoist a Larry O'Brien trophy up every single year, but I also have a realization of what particular team I have been a part of in that particular year," James said in an episode of his podcast, "Mind the Game," with co-host Steve Nash released Thursday.
"And understanding this year, we fought and we played to the maximum ability of our team. But ultimately, if we're being completely honest, we were out-talented."