“Sh*t Hurts”: Emotional LeBron James Is Struggling to Re-enter Society After Frustrating Playoffs Loss vs Nuggets

The Los Angeles Lakers appear to be a franchise in flux. Following their devastating playoff defeat at the hands of the Denver Nuggets, the Lakers seem to have a lot on their plate to sort out during this offseason. This hypothesis even holds true for their franchise star, LeBron James. He has remained silent since LA’s humbling playoff exit, leaving Lakers Nation eager to hear his take on the team and what lies ahead for him.

LeBron James finally spoke about the Lakers’ playoff exit during the latest episode of Mind the Game podcast. When co-host JJ Redick quizzed James about his emotional state, LeBron had this to say, “Sh*t, where am I emotionally right now? I don’t know, to be honest. I have no idea. Obviously, going against the defending champions in the first round is always going to be a difficult challenge. We knew that coming into it. But f**k, we had so many opportunities man.”

LeBron James further stated that the Lakers’ playoff loss “hurts,” even though the stronger team ultimately prevailed. He added, “If you’re not able to capitalize off those possessions or make plays during those possessions, then that’s how you lose games. So, emotionally I feel like we was like right there in every game. But also at the same time, we were. And that’s why we lost the series. Sh*t hurts, obviously.”

LeBron James and the Lakers might feel frustrated by the misleading appearance of a dominant 4-1 series win. However, the reality is quite different. The Lakers led the series for around 150 minutes, as opposed to the Nuggets’ who led for only 50 minutes. The playoff loss appears to have cut LeBron deep. And his recent remarks just go on to prove that.

LeBron James trying to “re-enter” society

The NBA season is an 8-month-long and arduous journey. This obviously takes a toll on players and coaches, both physically and mentally. After being “locked in” for almost eight months, athletes struggle to recalibrate their lifestyles back to normal. And LeBron James is no different. He admitted that he has struggled to “re-enter” society during a candid conversation with JJ Redick.

On Mind the Game podcast, LeBron James said, “Getting readjusted to what reality actually really is, is always difficult after the season. Because you’ve been in such a bubble for 7-8 months that getting re-acclimated to actuality, society is always a transition.”

After April wraps up, most teams and players get a nice, long offseason break that stretches all the way to September. It’s like their recharge time, giving them a chance to unwind and hang out with family. LeBron James deserves a rest after yet another stellar season, individually. However, with the Olympics less than a 100 days away, he won’t have the usual luxury of extended rest.