LeBron James takes NBA all-time minutes lead in career-worst loss

PHILADELPHIA — No one has spent more time on an NBA court than LeBron James. Only James scored the most lopsided defeat of his career.

James became the league’s all-time leader in minutes played during the Los Angeles Lakers’ 138-94 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday. Taking regular season and postseason games into account, James has now played 66,319 minutes in his career, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s total of 66,297 minutes.

James’ 30 minutes against the Sixers might have seemed longer than usual, with Philadelphia outscoring Los Angeles by 30 points during the time the 38-year-old star was in the game.

“It doesn’t mean much to me,” James said when asked about the minutes.

The 44-point loss — the largest in James’ 21-year career and tied for fifth-most in Lakers history — was far more pressing.

James and the rest of the core players in Los Angeles’ rotation were permanently removed with 8:18 left in the fourth quarter and the Lakers were already down by 27. James was asked if he had thought about what needed to change with his team – which is now the case. 3-6 on the road and 10-8 overall – to avoid losses like Monday’s.

“What needs to change so that this doesn’t happen again? Um, a lot,” James said.

Asked if there was anything in particular that Los Angeles needed to focus on, he said, “No. A lot.”

The Lakers trailed 32-19 at the end of the first quarter, digging an all-too-familiar early hole that they would try to dig out of for the rest of the contest.

“I feel like we just weren’t together,” Lakers big man Anthony Davis said. “A lot of quick shots, pass shots, no pass shots. They started making a lot of shots. And when their lead opened up a little bit – 15, 20, 25 – I think we all tried being the hero that brings the team back instead of just sticking with it.”

The Sixers made a season-high 22 3-pointers on 46 attempts (47.8%). LA, meanwhile, was just 7 of 25 (25%) from deep.

“We got killed at the 3-point line today,” James said bluntly.

Lakers guard Austin Reaves was more colorful in his description of what went wrong.

“I mean, they made a lot of 3s, we didn’t, and they beat us,” Reaves said. “So, I don’t know. Go back and look at it and you’ll be better.”

Davis said the team should “erase” the result from its memory – noting it will have a back-to-back against the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday before returning home – but agreed with Reaves that an in-depth film session would help examine the loss.

“We have to look at it, accept it, own it,” Davis said. “Guys don’t take it personally for anything that’s said in the movie and then move on.”

Regular film sessions became part of the Lakers’ success under former coach Frank Vogel, but they were sometimes volatile when one or more players took the instruction as a focused attack rather than a moment of education.

“You’re sitting there and watching film…it’s also in front of the whole team, the coaching staff,” Davis said. “I don’t think we have any guys who will take that personally. But if they do, that’s probably another conversation.”

Philadelphia was paced by reigning MVP Joel Embiid, who recorded a triple-double with 30 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists, and got 31 points and eight assists from fourth-year guard Tyrese Maxey.

While several Lakers players mentioned the obvious injury absences the team continues to face – Jarred Vanderbilt (heel), Gabe Vincent (knee), Cam Reddish (groin) and Rui Hachimura (nasal fracture) were all unavailable against Philadelphia – there was a feeling that what Los Angeles put together on Monday just wasn’t good enough.

And for a Lakers team that just made the Western Conference Finals and hopes to take the next step this season, it’s a reminder that they haven’t looked like a contender thus far.

“They have championship aspirations,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said of the Sixers. “So do we. But in the short term, your competitive spirit needs to be at a high level.”

When James was asked how a team should respond to a blowout like the one the Lakers suffered in Philadelphia, he offered a personal admission in lieu of any group instruction.

“I don’t know how a team [should]”, he said. “I can only speak for myself. … I do not like it.”