When the Los Angeles Lakers signed LeBron James to a four-year contract on the first day of 2018 NBA Free Agency, it was viewed as a signal the storied franchise was on the road back to prominence.
The new-look roster struggled at the outset of the season but began to find their chemistry. No more was that evident than on Christmas Day, in what ultimately served as a turning point for the wrong reasons.
While the Lakers routed the Golden State Warriors on their home floor, it came at the expense of James and Rajon Rondo suffering long-term injuries.