LeBron James heads list of those with most to lose if NBA shuts down

LeBron James' historic season - he's the only player to average 25 points and 10 assists at 35 or older - might net him the MVP but he'd lose a precious chance to win a fourth ring and lead the Los Angeles Lakers to an NBA record-tying 17th title. Photo: Nelson Chenault/USA Today Sports

LeBron James' historic season - he's the only player to average 25 points and 10 assists at 35 or older - might net him the MVP but he'd lose a precious chance to win a fourth ring and lead the Los Angeles Lakers to an NBA record-tying 17th title. Photo: Nelson Chenault/USA Today Sports

Published May 1, 2020

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LOS ANGELES - If the NBA doesn't come back this season -

and while the league says all options are open it still might not -

because of the coronavirus pandemic, here are the five biggest

losers:

1) LeBron James

His historic season - he's the only player to average 25 points and

10 assists at 35 or older - might net him the MVP but he'd lose a

precious chance to win a fourth ring and lead the Los Angeles Lakers

to an NBA record-tying 17th title.

2) The Milwaukee Bucks

If there's a lesson to be learned from the early episodes of ESPN's

Michael Jordan docuseries "The Last Dance" it's that great players

can respond to postseason failures with incredible fury. Giannis

Antetokounmpo was set to enter the upcoming playoffs after losing

four in a row to Toronto last year with a 2-0 series lead. With only

one year left on his deal after this season, the clock is ticking.

3) The Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers' plan for their first title wasn't

contingent on a single postseason, but the team was rounding into

form at the right time, a sign that their plan worked. With stars

Paul George and Kawhi Leonard having complicated injury pasts, what

are the odds that happens again?

4) Mike D'Antoni

The Houston Rockets coach came into this season with one year left on

his contract, meaning he'd need a deep run in the playoffs to

convince the franchise to not make a change. If the season does not

resume, has he shown enough to keep him, James Harden and Russell

Westbrook together?

5) NBA fans

After years of the Golden State Warriors dominating the West and with

James firmly cemented with the Lakers, the 2020 NBA Finals were

probably going to look very different for the first time in a while.

And then there's that Clippers-Lakers playoff series everyone wanted

so badly. It won't be the same in an empty Staples Center if it

happens.

dpa

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