Despite beating the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night, The Los Angeles Lakers were officially eliminated from playoff contention thanks to the New Orleans Pelicans knocking off the Brooklyn Nets. The Lakers (17-46) were already on their way to the worst season in franchise history, and Tuesday night’s game — Game 63 — is the earliest a non-playoff Lakers team has been mathematically eliminated since moving from Minneapolis.
To mark the occasion, Lakers players gathered Wednesday morning for the annual team photo, where some players actually managed to crack a smile. Kobe Bryant — whose season ended months ago — was not one of those players.
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