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A decade between Los Angeles Lakers home playoff wins: By the numbers

By Jason Reed

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 25: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers watches from the bench during the second half of Game Two of the Western Conference first-round playoff series at Phoenix Suns Arena on May 25, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 25: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers watches from the bench during the second half of Game Two of the Western Conference first-round playoff series at Phoenix Suns Arena on May 25, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Phoenix Suns on Thursday to take a 2-1 lead in the series. This win was notable for more than that reason, though.

It was the first game playoff game that the Lakers played in front of a home crowd since 2013 due to the league finishing last season in the Orlando bubble. Even crazier, the Lakers were swept in 2013, so this was the first home playoff win since 2012 — nearly a decade.

Despite winning championship no. 17 last year, the Lakers’ last playoff win in front of a home crowd was on May 18, 2012; a 99-96 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. The last time the Lakers won a playoff game people believed the world was going to end in 2012 because of the Mayans. It’s been a crazy nine years, both inside and outside of basketball.

By the numbers of the Los Angeles Lakers’ nine-year home playoff win drought:

29,157

That is how many minutes LeBron James has played, both in the regular season and in the playoffs, since the Los Angeles Lakers’ last playoff win in front of a home crowd. LeBron was 27 years old the last time that the Lakers won a playoff game in the Staples Center, which is a crazy thing to wrap your head around.

For those wondering, LeBron’s 29,157 minutes since the Lakers’ last playoff win is the equivalent of playing over 20 straight days of basketball without stopping or is the equivalent of 60 eight-hour shifts.

717

That is how many regular-season games the Los Angeles Lakers have played since their last home playoff win at the Staples Center. Lakers fans have watched 717 games that in the grand scheme of things don’t mean much before they could see their team win a playoff game at home.

A lot of those games were very ugly as well. The dark ages of the Lakers are behind us but boy, were they rough.

6,019,000

That is how many fans attended regular-season home games between the Lakers’ two home playoff wins (not counting the 2021 season, which registers zero for the Los Angeles Lakers). Over six million fans purchased and scanned tickets at the gates to go see the purple and gold play without a playoff win in that span.

MORE: The most underrated Los Angeles Lakers of the 21st century

That is dedication if I have ever seen it. It is easy for fans of bad teams to simply stop showing up but Laker fans didn’t and that is why they are the best fanbase in the world.

101

There have been 101 different players to score at least one point for the Los Angeles Lakers in the regular season between home playoff wins. The leader of the pack is LeBron James, who has scored 4,329 points for the Lakers in that span. Right behind him is Kyle Kuzma with 4,206. Third place is Kobe Bryant with 4,159.

There are definitely some odd names on this list that fans may have forgotten about. Isaiah Thomas ranks 57th with 265 points scored, J.R. Smith ranks 98th with 17 points and Derrick Williams ranks 101st with two points scored.

105

There have been 101 Lakers to score at least one point for the team during this span and there have been 105 total players to play at least one minute. The four players who have recorded playing time without scoring are Andre Goudelock, Elias Harris, Darius Johnson-Odom and Zach Norvell.

Next. 50 greatest Lakers of all-time. dark

Bonus points for those that knew that Elias Harris has the most minutes played without scoring. He registered 11 minutes with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2013-14 season.

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