Did Michael Jordan ever get swept? Looking at NBA legend’s playoff record
Getting swept in the NBA is one of the most embarrassing things that can happen. However, even the great Michael Jordan suffered that kind of humiliating defeat during his career.
Before 2003, the first round of the postseason was a best-of-five tournament, with each team racing to win three games. As such, you would only need to lose three games to be eliminated from the opening round of the playoffs.
During the 1986 postseason, Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls were eliminated from the opening round by the Boston Celtics, losing three straight games. That Celtics team boasted Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, and Bill Walton, so it's no surprise that a young Jordan and Bulls team were swept aside.
He did get swept in two straight opening rounds, though. 1986, 1987. Both to the Boston Celtics. twitter.com/NjTank99/statu…
However, the next year, Michael Jordan was once again swept in the opening round at the hands of the Celtics. Yes, for two straight years, Jordan was swept in the playoffs.
But from 1988 to 1998, Michael Jordan would not be sent home in the first round again, marking a decade of postseason dominance for both him and the Bulls.
Jordan played 179 postseason games, averaging 33.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 5.7 assists on 48.7% shooting from the field and 33.2% shooting from deep. He won six NBA championships - 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, and 1998.
NBA legend LeBron James credits Denver Nuggets
On Monday, LeBron James and the LA Lakers were swept by the Denver Nuggets, losing the Western Conference Finals 4-0 following a 113-111 Game-4 defeat.
Despite the lopsided defeat, James spoke highly of the Nuggets, noting that they're the most complete team he has faced in the last four years.
“Me and AD were just talking in the locker room for a little bit. I think we came to the consensus; this is, if not, one of the best teams, if not the best team, we’ve played together for all four years,” James said.
“Just well orchestrated, well put together. They have scoring. They have shooting. They have play-making. They have smarts. They have length. They have depth.”
Despite being 38, LeBron James gave it his all in the playoff run this season. In 15 games, the veteran superstar produced a stat line of 23.5 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 6.3 assists. He shot the ball at a 48.9% clip from the field and converted 75.3% of his attempts from the free-throw line.
Shockingly, following the Lakers' playoff elimination, Bleacher Report's Chris Haynes has reported that NBA legend James could now consider retirement.
"Lakers star LeBron James is uncertain if he'll be with the team when the 2023-24 season starts in the fall, and retirement is under consideration, league sources tell Bleacher Report, TNT," Haynes wrote.
Regardless of what the NBA all-time scorer does next, whether remaining in the NBA or calling time in his career, there's no shame in losing in the conference finals.