LeBron James urges Thunder to ‘go get another’ after Lakers’ series exit

The Oklahoma City Thunder have advanced to the Western Conference finals after completing a 4-0 series sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers, securing their spot with a 115-110 victory in Game 4. The result marks the first time the reigning NBA champions have faced the prospect of a postseason exit, a scenario the Thunder navigated to maintain their perfect 8-0 record in the 2026 NBA playoffs.

LeBron James, who averaged 23.3 points, six rebounds, and 5.8 assists over the six-game series, publicly congratulated Thunder stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Alex Caruso following the final buzzer. James, a four-time NBA champion, told the pair to “go get another” championship ring, a sentiment that underscored the mutual respect between the two franchises despite the competitive nature of the matchup.

Gilgeous-Alexander was instrumental in the Game 4 win, recording 35 points and eight assists to reassert his form as an MVP-calibre player. Ajay Mitchell contributed 28 points, while Chet Holmgren secured the victory with a go-ahead dunk after earlier in the game. The Thunder’s dominance has been evident throughout the postseason, with six of their eight wins coming by double-digit margins.

For James, the series highlighted a shift in momentum as the 41-year-old’s performance cooled in the latter stages of the contest. He missed a potential go-ahead floater with 20 seconds remaining in Game 4, a moment that encapsulated the Lakers’ inability to close out the series against the heavy favourites.

The post-game interaction also highlighted the history between James and Caruso, who played alongside James for the Lakers from 2017 to 2021. Caruso, now a two-time NBA champion and established as one of the league’s premier perimeter defenders, was embraced by James, who recognised the significance of the Thunder’s achievement against a team featuring one of the most enduring figures in NBA history.

While the Western Conference final remains to be determined, the Eastern Conference playoffs continue with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons tied 2-2 in their series. The winner of that matchup is set to face the New York Knicks, leaving the Thunder as the sole undefeated team remaining in the postseason.

Gilgeous-Alexander and James are part of an exclusive group of players who have either won or are close to winning multiple MVP trophies, a connection that James acknowledged in his congratulatory remarks. The Thunder’s sweep serves as a stark reminder of the changing landscape in the NBA, even as James continues to dominate discourse nearly three decades into his career.