LeBron James appeared in good spirits shortly after the Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated from postseason contention on April 30, spotted leaving a restaurant in the early hours following his Game 5 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Wearing a Louis Vuitton ensemble and flashing a wide smile, the 40-year-old James didn’t appear weighed down by the defeat when he was seen leaving Wally’s in Beverly Hills around 04:00 according to sources cited by TMZ.
Accompanied by a group of close friends, including super-agent Rich Paul and Corey Gamble, the four-time champion carried a large water bottle and a lower back cushion as he made his way to his vehicle.
James‘ relaxed demeanor followed a frustrating NBA Playoffs exit as the Lakers slumped to a 4-1 series defeat at the hands of the Timberwolves, who secured a 103-96 victory to win the series 4-1.
Rudy Gobert led the Timberwolves with a dominant 27-point, 24-rebound performance-both career playoff highs.
His commanding presence in the paint too advantage of the Lakers’ weakness at center after trading Anthony Davis and proved decisive against a Los Angeles team that opted for a smaller lineup.
Gobert dominates as Lakers suffer heartbreak
Gobert‘s impact was especially evident in Game 5, where his inside presence overwhelmed the Lakers. Even though Minnesota struggled from beyond the arc-converting only 7 of 47 three-point attempts-they capitalized on their interior advantage. Gobert’s scoring output in this game exceeded his total from the previous four matchups combined.
Anthony Edwards contributed a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Julius Randle added 23 points. Their efforts helped the Timberwolves win their third straight game, closing out the series against a Lakers squad that had reshaped its roster midseason with a blockbuster trade for Luka Doncic.
Doncic posted 28 points and nine assists, and LeBron added 22 points of his own, but it wasn’t enough to lift the Lakers beyond the First Round; marking the second straight postseason with an early exit.
Since winning the 2020 championship in the NBA bubble, Los Angeles has advanced past the first round just once in five seasons in a disappointing spell at the Crypto.com Arena.
The Timberwolves will await the outcome of the Houston Rockets-Golden State Warriors series to find out who they take on in the next stage of the NBA Playoffs after the Rockets forced a Game 6.
Jalen Green‘s side avoided elimination in Game 5 on Wednesday, but they still have it all to do as the Warriors currently hold a 3-2 lead ahead of their next meeting on Friday, May 2.
Despite the playoff disappointment, James‘ relaxed public appearance suggests the veteran remains composed and perhaps already looking ahead, as he focuses on the disconnecting during the offseason; before eyes turn to the 2025/26 NBA campaign.
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