There is a lot of pressure on the Los Angeles Lakers this season as they try to win their first Championship since 2020.
Last season they enjoyed their best record since their title triumph, but the franchise knows further improvements must be made to compete again.
Looking Back
Plagued by injuries to several key role players throughout the season the Lakers endured a campaign of inconsistency. This led to an eighth-seed finish and a play-in spot, though they suffered at the hands of a very competitive Western Conference.
With a record of 47-35, they faced the New Orleans Pelicans in the first play-in game, which they won to secure the seventh seed. As a result, they were rewarded with a first-round series against the defending champions Denver Nuggets. It was a repeat of the Western Conference Finals from the previous year, in which they were swept. They were able to put up a bit more of a fight this time around, but ultimately lost in five games.
Such was the toughness of the Western Conference last season, a 47-win campaign would have seen them as a top-four seed in 22-23.
Silverware was still a factor in the Lakers’ season, as they won the first-ever In-Season Tournament in December. They beat the Indiana Pacers 123-109 in Las Vegas, and LeBron James was named the competition’s MVP.
However, the disappointment of another year of playoff failure led the front office to move on from head coach Darvin Ham. After replacing Frank Vogel in 2022, Ham had a .549 winning percentage in the regular season and won nine of 21 games in the playoffs.
New Man at the Helm
It has been a quiet off-season in terms of roster personnel changes. However, the Lakers made a huge decision on who will lead the team. After firing Ham, they went through a lengthy and public process of selecting a new head coach, ultimately settling on ex-NBA pro JJ Redick. It is Redick’s first-ever head coaching gig, after spending the majority of his time in the media following his retirement in 2021. Before his appointment, Redick co-hosted two podcast shows, including one with his newest superstar LeBron.
He will be working with a team vastly similar to last year. The Lakers have not signed any new free agents but have resigned Max Christie and James to fresh contracts. James reaffirmed his commitment to the Lakers by penning a two-year $104m deal, with a player option for 25-26 in addition to a no-trade clause.
His salary is a little under the maximum amount he could have earned, and this should allow the franchise some further financial flexibility in building the rest of the roster. It will be crucial when navigating the trade market, an area the Lakers are believed to be looking at.
The Lakers have numerous tradeable assets they could utilize alongside two future first-round draft picks. D’Angelo Russell, who earns $18.6m, Rui Hachimura, and Gabe Vincent are among those mentioned as potential pieces. With James not having long left in his career, it is imperative that the franchise maximize their window whilst it is still ajar.
James & Davis Running the Show
There is no doubt who the Lakers' superstars are, LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Despite James entering the 22nd season of his NBA career, he is still playing at an elite level comparable with the very best.
Over the summer, he competed for Team USA at the Paris Olympics, winning a third gold medal and MVP award. It followed an impressive individual season in which he averaged 25.7 points per game, shooting 54% from the field. His importance to the team was highlighted by his 35.3 minutes per game at 39 years old. His efforts earned him a spot on the All-NBA Third Team.
Running the show alongside him is big man Anthony Davis. Often criticized for his lack of availability due to injuries, Davis missed just six games last season as he was named in the All-NBA Second Team and All-Defensive First Team. In 76 games, he averaged 24.7 points with 12.6 rebounds. He also came fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting. Davis was part of the Team USA side in Paris, winning his second gold medal.
Bronny & Knecht
Despite not adding any free agents as of yet, the Lakers did draft two promising rookies. The biggest story was the selection of Bronny James, the son of LeBron, as they will become the first father-son duo to play in the NBA. Bronny also received interest from the Phoenix Suns but was ultimately selected by his father’s team.
The 19-year-old was the 55th overall pick in the draft and will join the team with plenty of eyes on him. It is likely that the guard will spend the majority of the season with the South Bay Lakers in the G-League, but may provide an interesting option for Redick depending on his development.
A player who should see more playing time is 17th-overall pick, Dalton Knecht. Knecht is a guard out of the University of Tennessee, where he averaged 21.7 points in 36 games. He appeared in three Summer League games, finishing fifth in scoring with 21.3 points per game, a figure which led all rookies.
Looking Ahead
With a rookie head coach at the helm, it is tough to predict how the Lakers’ season will play out. However, the aim for the team will be to win a Championship. With the superstar duo of James and Davis, they will always have a chance of making some noise provided they remain healthy.
Following their title victory in June, the Boston Celtics broke the tie in most Championships won as they now lead 18 to 17. The Lakers will be desperate to even the count back up with their long-time rivals. That being said, they face a huge task to do so, with a stacked Western Conference to contend with.
There is a mix of young, hungry teams, with older and experienced squads providing an intriguing balance for the season ahead. The Lakers fall into the latter category and are perhaps seen as one of the outsiders to make a deep run. Although, there is still plenty of time for that to change with the season still weeks away from starting.
