- Location: Los Angeles, California, USA
- Home court: Crypto.com Arena
- G.M: Rob Pelinka
- Coach: Darvin Ham
- Star: F LeBron James
- 2021 Season: 33-49, failed to make the playoffs.
- NBA Titles: 1949, 1950, 1951, 1953, 1954, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2020.
- Greatest Player: G Magic Johnson.
- Factoid: Twenty-six Hall of Famers have played for Los Angeles.
Showtime.
Magic Johnson. Kobe Bryant. Shaquille O’Neal. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Wilt Chamberlain. Jerry West. We could keep going but think of this way – West might not even be one of the Top 5 players in franchise history.
There are just a few iconic franchises in all of sports that occupy the same stratosphere as the Lakers. You know them – Cowboys, Yankees, Celtics. Canadiens. And the Lakers are as Hollywood as they come.
If it’s not Jack Nicholson sitting courtside, it’s Snoop Dogg. If it’s not Snoop Dogg, it’s Leonardo DiCaprio. If it’s not DiCaprio, it’s Kendrick Lamar.
And this Lakers team has the star of stars. LeBron James already has delivered one Larry O’Brien Trophy and as his career gets closer to the end, than the beginning, you can be sure he wants to deliver another, which would be The King’s fifth and the Lakers 18th. A fifth MVP and Finals MVP would only heighten the argument of who is the greatest basketball player of all time.
This Lakers team certainly can do it. James has his Robin in Anthony Davis. Whether or not the supporting cast is good enough and deep enough remains to be seen. But as long as James is healthy, the Lakers can’t be counted out.
If this is the 37-year-olds final season, and James has given no indication that he is even considering that, the former No.1 pick in 2003 will lead an indelible mark on the NBA. Whereas Jordan wouldn’t immerse himself in social issues, James has used his platform and used it well. He’s built schools in his hometown of Akron and shined a spotlight on injustices with a powerful beam.
This could be a Hollywood script for the ages. James wins another title and Father Time calls out to him to retire.
Most believe LeBron wants to play at least one season in the NBA with his son Bronny, if the youngster is good enough to follow in his father’s footsteps. That too, would make for a great script. That’s life with the Lakers. There’s always the possibility of Showtime.