The Los Angeles Lakers saw their red-hot win streak get cut short by the Boston Celtics on Saturday night as LeBron James and Co. suffered a 111-101 loss to the reigning NBA champs.
To make matters worse, James could reportedly miss "weeks" after sustaining a groin injury and leaving the game in the fourth quarter. The NBA star tallied 22 points before exiting the contest but may have added a lamentable lowlight to his highlight reel with a brutal flop late in the game.
With the Lakers down by 18 points in the fourth, the Celtics' Jayson Tatum blew past James and drove to the basket for a layup. Tatum made some minimal contact with James and may have grazed James's chin with his right elbow, but James—ever the league veteran—expertly sold the foul:
Don’t ever compare this man to Jordan again pic.twitter.com/Il9ccLztkt
— S&N News, Politics and Sports (@Samantha_SN1) March 9, 2025
Fans were not impressed and expected more from the 21-time All-Star:
CRAZY FLOP BY LEBRON 😂 pic.twitter.com/5skm29nUJh
— CELTICS ☘️ BANNER 19 (@BiggLynch) March 9, 2025
Best actor in LA: LeBron James pic.twitter.com/so7QvDUxUp
— Jon Root (@JonnyRoot_) March 9, 2025
LeFlop of the century 🤣pic.twitter.com/ygmJDMwkp7
— JimmyButlerMuse (@ButlerlllMuse) March 9, 2025
At 40 years old, LeBron is still the king of flop.
— Wilson (@MWilson_25) March 9, 2025
If the @NBA had any integrity whatsoever (it doesn’t) then LeBron James would be fined and suspended for this ridiculous flop. American basketball is turning into Italian soccer. 🤦♂️
— Chris (@NewEnglandChris) March 9, 2025
I often wonder why NBA players do this and whether they’re at all embarrassed when the video goes viral. https://t.co/aUd8qSLrUf
— Andy Bailey (@AndrewDBailey) March 9, 2025