The 2019 NBA Finals will be the first Finals without LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Shaquille O’Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, or Michael Jordan since 1991, according to NBA insider Tommy Beer.
James has played in the last eight NBA Finals. Since 1991, Bryant has played in seven Finals, Shaq has played in five, Duncan has played in six, Hakeem has played in two, and Jordan played in six.
Lakers were officially eliminated last night.
This year will be the first time since 1991 the NBA Finals don't feature either LeBron, Kobe, Tim Duncan, Shaq, Hakeem Olajuwon, or Michael Jordan.
Yes, amazingly, 28 consecutive Finals featured at least one of those six players!
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) March 23, 2019
James is missing the playoffs this season for the first time since his sophomore year in the NBA, when he was with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The groin injury James suffered on Christmas Day against the Golden State Warriors was pretty much the end for the Los Angeles Lakers’ season.
James has a Finals record of 3-6.
Bryant and O’Neal won three-straight titles with the Lakers. They lost one to the Detroit Pistons before splitting up.
Kobe won two more titles with the Lakers alongside Pau Gasol, while Shaq won one with the Miami Heat with Dwyane Wade
Duncan went to six NBA Finals during his legendary career, finishing with a record of 5-1. Olajuwon went to two straight Finals, winning both of them.
Jordan, of course, went to six NBA Finals and was 6-0.
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