The Los Angeles Lakers faced an unexpected collapse. Despite entering the postseason as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference with a strong talent pool featuring LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves, they are now out of the league for this season. Their Game 5 loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves by 103-96 marked the end of their season.
LeBron James had a great Game 3 with vintage 38 points, five three-pointers, and 10 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough. In the fourth quarter, he had secured 27 points, mainly from three-pointers, but struggled in the last part of the game. As a result, fans are speculating whether he would bring back his “Zero Dark Thirty-23” rule to maintain his rhythm and refocus.
Did Silence Help LeBron James And The Lakers Refocus?
The Los Angeles Lakers superstar has a long-standing playoff ritual known as “Zero Dark Thirty-23,” a self-imposed social media blackout to eliminate distractions and sharpen his focus during this critical period. This idea came in 2012 when he won his first NBA title during the Miami Heat days. The goal was to focus entirely and ignore distractions. However, James has changed this, explaining he wants to stay connected with his family and use his platform to discuss important social issues.
This playoff season, the criticism surrounding James has reached a new level. In Game 4, his new Nike LeBron XXII shoes, celebrating his daughter Zhuri, became a center point. Unfortunately for James, his performance on the court and the Lakers’ late-game struggles led to adverse reactions.
Even though Anthony Edwards has been playing exceptionally well, James‘ criticism seems harsh. Although the Lakers ended their 2025 NBA season, the 40-year-old hasn’t ruled out the possibility of returning stronger next season. Ultimately, with or without adopting “Zero Dark Thirty-23,” the pressure and responsibility remained firmly fixed on the Lakers superstar, and it will always be the same until he retires.
Also Read: Why LeBron James Never Participated In The NBA Dunk Contest? The Mystery That Still Baffles Fans
