Those hoping for some sportsmanship from LeBron James at the end of the Los Angeles Lakers-Denver Nuggets playoff series were sorely disappointed.
The Lakers’ season came to an end on Monday night with a bitter 108-106 loss to the Denver Nuggets in Game 5 of their first-round matchup. Though the Lakers were in seemingly in control for the majority of the game, it was Jamal Murray who was once again the hero for the Nuggets, hitting a game-winner with 3.6 seconds left to rip the Lakers’ hearts out (video here).
Right after the final buzzer sounded, James was seen on the TNT broadcast walking straight to the locker room without shaking hands with any of the Nuggets players. Take a look at the clip.
Bron walked to the locker room without dapping up anyone from the Nuggets after the game🌚 pic.twitter.com/0isGJpk56I
— BGB♛ (@BonesGotBizzy) April 30, 2024
Several other Lakers, including Anthony Davis and Taurean Prince, did stick around to exchange handshakes with the Nuggets though.
LeBron James is the biggest sore loser ever… not only did he lose 6 finals but he also stormed off the court without shaking Jamal Murray’s hand for dunking on him and hitting a game winning shot. He needs to take notes from Kevin Durant who praised Ant despite getting swept!! pic.twitter.com/M9ziyP0bA0
— !¡ (@iondrinksoda) April 30, 2024
For James, that was a very poor display of sportsmanship but one that was not at all surprising for those who have watched him throughout his career. James has a long history of walking off the floor without shaking hands after losses, often with time still remaining on the clock. During the Lakers’ loss to the Nuggets in last year’s playoffs, James did the same thing too.
It is a shame that James didn’t bother to stick around and congratulate the Nuggets like his other teammates did after the very hard-fought five-game battle. On Denver’s end, they showed fantastic sportsmanship throughout the series with the Lakers, but that ultimately wasn’t reciprocated by James.
