The Los Angeles Lakers haven’t given up on their veteran duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis (yes, the center is already 31, feel old), even though the team hasn’t been able to get close to its coveted 18th title in recent years. This championship takes on special significance given that the Boston Celtics have once again taken the lead in the historic race for great franchises.
The upcoming season does not inspire hope among fans either. But one thing is certain: it will be fun. Every game will be discussed by all media, and rumors and insider stories will appear every day. This is due to the fact that the team has a new coach, JJ Redick, who has no professional experience, as well as the presence of LeBron James’ son, Bronny, on the team.
JJ Redick and Bronny James
Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Let’s start with Redick. There’s no doubt that he’s very good at basketball. His podcasts with LeBron were listened to with jaws agape and thousands of fans around the world literally relearned how to understand the game. But everyone understands that knowledge is not enough to successfully work in that position. Imagine if the Lakers had a bad start to the season. This has been a frequent problem for the team in recent years, as veterans need time to get into rhythm and distribute their forces. But how much pressure will JJ be under? From the first game he will be harshly criticized and asked to be fired.
Bronny will start the season in the Development League. Everyone will watch his every game under a microscope and criticize him for every little detail. There will be more cries of nepotism and how James is nowhere near NBA level. And others will urge management to give him a chance as soon as possible, believing that he is definitely no worse than the team’s role players, who everyone throws tomatoes at year after year.
Let’s not forget the team’s long-standing injury problems. In this respect, the previous season was successful: the team’s main injury victim, Davis, was able to play 76 games, although he had previously missed 114 games in three years. Are we sure he will be lucky again? Are the Lakers prepared for Anthony to play only 50 games?
Jarred Vanderbilt and Anthony Davis
Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Also worth mentioning is Jarred Vanderbilt, who the team sorely missed at the end of last season. He’s a key player in the Lakers’ defensive system and gives them a chance to compete with the best teams in the league. What happens if he gets injured again? What kind of system is this, where so much depends on a player who isn’t a star yet? And then there’s Gabe Vincent, who only played 11 games this season. Admittedly, everyone has doubts about his real level outside of Spoelstra’s system. But he has a pretty big contract.
Every season there are rumors around the Lakers that the management will move a third star to the roster. This will be discussed until the deadline. If the team decides not to take the risk of becoming Phoenix, maybe they can boast depth in their roster? But there are problems here, and depth is especially important in the regular season and in the Western Conference with incredible competition.
What will LeBron be like? He looked great last season, even better than the previous two. James found his sweet spot in long-range shooting and returned to the role of a true point guard, just like in the championship year. But what will the King be like in season 22?
LeBron James with the 2024 Olympics gold medal
Photo: Tom Weller/VOIGT/GettyImages
The legendary forward participated in the Olympics, which upset his usual off-season recovery regime. James said that in the summer he tries not to even touch a basketball, but because of the Paris Games he didn’t have that opportunity.
All the interested parties seem to be in a comfort zone. Lakers executives are happy that the team remains relatively competitive and is making the playoffs. It is important for a Hollywood franchise that the team is constantly talked about and that there is always something going on around it. Such a regime, even if it harms long-term development, is more convenient for Los Angeles than a quiet restructuring.
The league also benefits from the Lakers being a household name and remaining competitive. Players are comfortable living and working in Los Angeles. Why go somewhere and change something when you’ve already established yourself and your kids go to a local school? But what about titles? What about the race with Boston? If I were a true fan of the team, I’d be very worried about the California organization’s prospects.
A look back:
