For the first time since 2005, LeBron James won't be participating in the playoffs. Despite that disheartening reality and the accompanying lack of significance to the final three weeks of the regular season, though, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar is still going hard ā€” at least after he turns the ball over and senses an opportunity to brings the Staples Center crowd to its feet.

Any chase-down block from LeBron James is worthy of oohs and aahs. Not only did he make the move popular, but he also brought it to the forefront of the basketball world. Every time he comes rumbling from behind the play in transition, one can't help but recall what many believe is the single best defensive play in NBA history: his chase-down block of Andre Iguodala in the closing moments of Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals.

This particular highlight took on extra significance for Lakers fans to due to the other player involved. D'Angelo Russell, who you may remember, was traded from Los Angeles to the Brooklyn Nets in the summer of 2017 in a deal that allowed the Lakers create max cap space the following summer and netted them the pick that became Kyle Kuzma.

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LeBron James (Lakers) laughing with shocked emojis around him

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D'Angelo Russell with dollar signs on his eyes

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Lakers coach Darvin Ham, with fire under his seat.

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D'Angelo Russell broke out this season, making his first All-Star game while leading Brooklyn's playoff push ā€” extra frustrating for Los Angeles fans given their team underachieving. Does James chasing him down for a massive block make losing Russell any less palatable? Perhaps, and rightfully so. At the moment, the Lakers needs every victory it can get, no matter how small.

Los Angeles, by the way, lost to Brooklyn and was officially eliminated from the postseason in the process.