LeBron James‘ early playoff exit against the Nuggets gives him a chance to lead the NBA in the most stressful division – the most times he has lost to an NBA champion in the postseason.
If Denver wins the 2024 title, LeBron will tie Wilt Chamberlaina record of nine such cases.
The standard, as always, is below. (Full of Laker stars, by the way).
Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images
1961: Lost to Boston in Conference Finals
1964: Lost to Boston in the NBA Finals
1965: Lost to Boston in Conference Finals
1966: Lost to Boston in Conference Finals
1968: Lost to Boston in Conference Finals
1969: Lost to Boston in the NBA Finals
1970: Lost to New York in the NBA Finals
1971: Lost to Milwaukee in Conference Finals
1973: Lost to New York in the NBA Finals
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
1999: Lost to San Antonio in the Conference Semifinals
2003: Lost to San Antonio in the Conference Semifinals
2004: Lost to Detroit in the NBA Finals
2007: Lost at San Antonio in Conference Finals
2008: Lost to Boston in the NBA Finals
2011: Lost to Dallas in the Conference Semifinals
2012: Lost to Miami in the NBA Finals
2014: Lost at San Antonio in Conference Finals
Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports
1959: Lost to Boston in the NBA Finals
1962: Lost to Boston in the NBA Finals
1963: Lost to Boston in the NBA Finals
1965: Lost to Boston in the NBA Finals
1966: Lost to Boston in the NBA Finals
1968: Lost to Boston in the NBA Finals
1969: Lost to Boston in the NBA Finals
1970: Lost to New York in the NBA Finals
George Long/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images
1962: Lost to Boston in the NBA Finals
1963: Lost to Boston in the NBA Finals
1965: Lost to Boston in the NBA Finals
1966: Lost to Boston in the NBA Finals
1968: Lost to Boston in the NBA Finals
1969: Lost to Boston in the NBA Finals
1970: Lost to New York in the NBA Finals
1973: Lost to New York in the NBA Finals
Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Network.
1970: Lost to New York in the Conference Finals
1972: Lost to the LA Lakers in the Conference Finals
1974: Lost to Boston in the NBA Finals
1977: Lost to Portland in Conference Finals
1979: Lost to Oklahoma City in the Conference Semifinals
1983: Lost to Philadelphia in the NBA Finals
1984: Lost to Boston in the NBA Finals
1989: Lost to Detroit in the NBA Finals
Andrew Wevers-USA TODAY Sports
2007: Lost to San Antonio in the NBA Finals
2008: Lost to Boston in the Conference Semifinals
2011: Lost to Dallas in the NBA Finals
2014: Lost to San Antonio in the NBA Finals
2015: Lost to Golden State in the NBA Finals
2017: Lost to Golden State in the NBA Finals
2018: Lost to Golden State in the NBA Finals
2023: Lost to Denver in Conference Finals
Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images
1999: Lost at San Antonio in Conference Finals
2000: Lost to the LA Lakers in the Conference Finals
2001: Lost to the LA Lakers in the first round
2002: Lost to the LA Lakers in the first round
2005: Lost to San Antonio in the NBA Finals
2006: Lost at Miami in Conference Finals
2008: Lost to Boston in Conference Finals
2010: Lost to the LA Lakers in the NBA Finals
RHONA WISE/AFP via Getty Images
1986: Lost to Boston in the first round
1990: Lost to Detroit in the Conference Semifinals
1991: Lost to Chicago in the first round
1992: Lost to Chicago in the Conference Semifinals
1993: Lost at Chicago in the Conference Finals
1994: Lost at Houston in the NBA Finals
1996: Lost to Chicago in the Conference Semifinals
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
2010: Lost to the LA Lakers in the first round
2011: Lost at Dallas in Conference Finals
2012: Lost to Miami in the NBA Finals
2015: Lost to Golden State in the Conference Finals
2018: Lost to Golden State in the Conference Finals
2020: Lost to the LA Lakers in the Conference Semifinals
2021: Lost to Milwaukee in the Conference Semifinals
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
2010: Lost to the LA Lakers in the first round
2011: Lost at Dallas in Conference Finals
2012: Lost to Miami in the NBA Finals
2014: Lost at San Antonio in Conference Finals
2019: Lost to Toronto in the NBA Finals
2021: Lost to Milwaukee in the Conference Semifinals
2023: Lost to Denver in the Conference Semifinals
1947: Lost to Golden State in the NBA Finals
1948: Lost at Baltimore in Conference Finals
1949: Lost to the LA Lakers in the Conference Semifinals
1950: Lost to the LA Lakers in the Conference Semifinals
1951: Lost to Rochester in the NBA Finals
1952: Lost to the LA Lakers in the NBA Finals
1955: Lost to Philadelphia in the NBA Finals
RVR-USA TODAY Sports Photos
1990: Lost to Detroit in the Conference Semifinals
1991: Lost to Chicago in the first round
1992: Lost to Chicago in the Conference Semifinals
1993: Lost at Chicago in the Conference Finals
1994: Lost at Houston in the NBA Finals
1996: Lost to Chicago in the Conference Semifinals
1999: Lost to San Antonio in the NBA Finals
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