With the Los Angeles Lakers facing off against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2025 NBA playoffs, LeBron James has now faced 80% of all NBA teams in the postseason, a remarkable testament to his enduring greatness and longevity.
After a career spanning over two decades, James has become a fixture in the postseason landscape, competing against nearly every team in the NBA at least once.
While James has competed against the majority of the NBA’s franchises in the playoffs, there are still six teams that he has never matched up with in the postseason. These teams are: Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings, Utah Jazz, and New Orleans Pelicans.
The Cavaliers, the team that drafted LeBron in 2003, are the most unlikely team for him to face at this stage of his career. Given that LeBron is currently playing for the Lakers, the only possible way he could meet his former team would be in the NBA Finals.
As for the Los Angeles Lakers, it is virtually impossible for James to face them in the playoffs as they are his current team. The best opportunity for a LeBron-Lakers Finals matchup came in 2009, when the Cavs fell short in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Orlando Magic in six games.
The Clippers, on the other hand, could still pose a potential threat. A matchup against them could still happen if both teams make it to the Western Conference Finals this season.
Meanwhile, the Sacramento Kings are unlikely to make a deep enough playoff run in the near future to face the Lakers, and the Utah Jazz and New Orleans Pelicans are not in the playoffs this season, meaning LeBron will have to wait until the next year to see if the opportunity presents itself.
The team LeBron has faced the most in the postseason is the Boston Celtics, a rivalry that has defined much of his playoff career. He has faced the Celtics an astounding 41 times in the playoffs, holding a 25-16 record against them.
LeBron has won five playoff series against the Celtics, while losing two. Their matchups have been incredibly intense, with several of them involving high stakes, including his iconic 2018 Eastern Conference Finals performance with the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he led his team to a seven-game victory.
LeBron’s other frequent playoff opponents include the Indiana Pacers (30 matchups, 20-10 record) and the Golden State Warriors (28 matchups, 11-17 record).
The Warriors’ record against LeBron is the most challenging, having seen them meet four times in the NBA Finals, with Golden State emerging victorious in three of those matchups.
LeBron has a perfect postseason record against three NBA teams: the Atlanta Hawks (12-0), Milwaukee Bucks (4-0), and the Charlotte Bobcats (4-0). These undefeated streaks are a testament to LeBron’s ability to dominate teams that were often not strong enough to challenge him in the playoffs.
LeBron’s comprehensive playoff history includes a broad spectrum of teams, showcasing his dominance and adaptability against nearly every franchise. His record against various teams includes:
– Boston Celtics: 25-16
– Indiana Pacers: 20-10
– Golden State Warriors: 11-17
– Detroit Pistons: 15-6
– Chicago Bulls: 16-5
– Washington Wizards: 12-4
– San Antonio Spurs: 5-11
– Toronto Raptors: 12-2
– Denver Nuggets: 5-9
– Atlanta Hawks: 12-0
– Brooklyn Nets: 8-3
– Orlando Magic: 2-4
– Dallas Mavericks: 2-4
– Miami Heat: 4-2
– Phoenix Suns: 2-4
– Memphis Grizzlies: 4-2
– Philadelphia 76ers: 4-1
– New York Knicks: 4-1
– Oklahoma City Thunder: 4-1
– Portland Trail Blazers: 4-1
– Houston Rockets: 4-1
– Milwaukee Bucks: 4-0
– Charlotte Bobcats: 4-0
As LeBron continues his career, his playoff battles will likely increase as the Lakers remain a contender in the West. However, the six teams he has yet to face remain a fascinating curiosity.
Whether it’s a Finals matchup against the Cavaliers or a potential clash with the Clippers, LeBron’s quest to face every team in the postseason is one of the many milestones in his legendary career. The challenge of overcoming the best in the league only adds to his remarkable legacy as the game’s greatest player.
