The Biggest Pretender of The 2023 NBA Season

___________________________

AJ Slusarczyk, Josephine Nguyen (ed.)

When examining every NBA team that has been crowned a champion in the past 15 years, a discernible trend becomes apparent: a prevalent characteristic of the teams’ best player stands out. What stands out is that their age does not exceed 30-years-old. 

Teams in the modern NBA are trying to compete earlier into their rebuild, allowing for a larger room for error. This approach  has led to younger teams to rise to the top of the standings. This season, the Lakers are entering this season under the impression that a 38 year old Lebron James will be able to guide the Lakers to championship status. 

Last season, the Lakers were ranked in the bottom six teams in three-point efficiency in the NBA. While the team did make significant strides in improving their perimeter shooting during last season's trade deadline, it still fell short of the standards set by their competitors. Furthermore, the challenge of having their star player attempt nearly seven three-points per game, with an efficiency below league average, added to the difficulty of winning close games.

To surmount the challenges posed by their shooting woes and the aging of Lebron James, they must rely on Anthony Davis to return to his previous form as an MVP-caliber player. Yet, it is important to note his recent injury history.

During the offseason, the Lakers decided to bolster their roster depth. Notable acquisitions such as Gabe Vincent, Taurean Prince, and Christian Wood were added. All of whom have proved to be reliable three-point shooters that can play a complementary role to a team's star. However, it is worth considering that these new acquisitions could face heightened scrutiny if the Laker’s stars do not meet the high expectations set for them.

In the landscape of the NBA, the Los Angeles Lakers face the dual challenge of countering the trend of young competitive teams and addressing their shooting struggles while banking on the aging but remarkable Lebron James. The acquisitions made during the offseason aim to bulk up their team’s depth, but the ceiling of the team will ultimately hinge on their star’s ability to defy the odds.