The Lakers are old, but they have the most talented team in the NBA. They are coming off of a three-peat and will be looking to make it four this year with LeBron James on their side.
The los angeles lakers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They have the most talented team in the NBA and have won 5 championships.
The Los Angeles Lakers have made headlines once again after finalizing a blockbuster deal for Russell Westbrook, a nine-time All-Star. In true Lakers form, they didn’t stop there, adding a few more major names to the roster.
Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Malik Monk, and Kendrick Nunn were all added to the squad and have quickly become household names in the NBA. Carmelo Anthony is a 10-time All-Star, while Dwight Howard is an 8-time All-Star, and both players are on their way to the Hall of Fame. Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwight Howard will be joining Marc Gasol, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis, who are all past All-Stars.
The Lakers are the only team in NBA history to feature five multiple-time All-Stars on the same roster, but they also have the league’s oldest average age. The amount of skill in Los Angeles right now, as well as the average age of their roster, is insane. The following is a breakdown of the roster, with each player evaluated by position.
Guards
Russell Westbrook is a 32-year-old basketball player.
Whatever you think of Russell Westbrook, he is a first-ballot Hall of Famer who will transform the Lakers into a far more dominating club. Westbrook is a 9-time All-Star, former MVP, and the 4th player in NBA history to average a triple-double.
His toughness and agility will offer the Lakers a huge edge, and he is coming off a season in which he averaged 22.2 points per game, 11.5 rebounds per game, and 11.7 assists per game. As he approaches 33 years old, he has a fantastic opportunity to earn his first ring. Russell Westbrook is one of the greatest point guards in the NBA and will be the Purple and Gold’s third best player when he gets older.
Kendrick Nunn is a 26-year-old actor.
Kendrick Nunn has been a standout performer for the Miami Heat, so it’s surprising that they didn’t attempt to re-sign him to a long-term contract. Nunn was a terrific rookie, averaging 15.3 points per possession and 14.6 points per possession as a scoring point guard last season.
Nunn, who is just 26 years old, brings down the average age of the Lakers’ roster, and he will be expected to offer strong backup to Russell Westbrook, who is prone to nagging ailments.
Kent Bazemore is a 32-year-old actor.
Kent Bazemore, who most recently played for the Golden State Warriors, has had a lengthy and successful career. Bazemore was acquired by the Warriors to fill in for the injured Klay Thompson, and he performed well, scoring 7.2 points per game in 19.9 minutes per game.
When the stars get him open looks, Bazemore, who has a lifetime 35.6 percent three-point shooting percentage, will be one of the main knockout shooters from three. Bazemore’s role will be limited to providing depth and play when needed.
20-year-old Talen Horton-Tucker
Talen Horton-Tucker, the versatile guard who the Lakers refuse to let go, is poised for a breakthrough season. As he develops as an all-around scorer and player, he will definitely benefit from the veterans on this squad.
Horton-Tucker, who is just 20, averaged 9.0 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game for the Lakers this season. Horton-Tucker should be counted on to provide energy and effort every night for the Lakers, who have a roster full of elderly men.
Malik Monk is a 23-year-old monk.
Malik Monk is a dynamic scorer who has yet to reach his full potential. Last season, he averaged 11.7 points per game on 40.1 percent three-point shooting for the Hornets, and he was a surprise free agent acquisition for the Lakers.
Many anticipated Monk to sign a long-term contract with a team, but he chose to develop and win a championship with the Lakers. Monk has made it plain that he wants to stack the deck in his team’s advantage, and he will be counted on to be one of the team’s best shooters.
Wayne Ellington is a 33-year-old jazz musician.
Next season, veteran Wayne Ellington will be 34, but he will always be a terrific knockout shooter. Ellington is averaging 38.2 percent from three-point range in his career, and he shot the ball very effectively for the Pistons last season.
Ellington made 42.2 percent of his threes in 46 games, and as long as he can keep it around 40.0 percent for the Lakers, he’ll be OK. When the superstars drive the lane and kick, Wayne Ellington should receive a lot of open looks.
Forwards
36-year-old LeBron James
Last season, LeBron James wasn’t the greatest player in the world, but he has a shot to be this season. Aside from Chris Paul, the King is by far the smartest player in the league and the greatest all-around leader in the game right now. Last season, James averaged 25.0 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, and he will undoubtedly benefit from having more skill on his squad.
Because James is 36 years old this season and 37 next, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook will have to be the team’s top players throughout the regular season. The King’s presence in the locker room is enough to make everyone better, so expect him to have his greatest chance at winning his fifth NBA title.
Anthony Davis is a 28-year-old basketball player.
Anthony Davis was great during the Lakers’ championship run in 2020, but injuries ended his season the following year. Davis was unable to remain healthy, giving LeBron James little opportunity of guiding the club back to the NBA Finals.
If Davis stays healthy, he will be the club’s leading scorer despite the fact that the squad now has a plethora of great players. Despite playing 36 games, Davis averaged 21.8 points per game and 7.9 rebounds per game, and he should be back to his best after a lengthy layoff this summer.
Carmelo Anthony is a 37-year-old basketball player.
Finally, NBA fans can see Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James play together on the same team. When Anthony was approached to join the Miami Heat, he turned down LeBron James, but now that he’s 37, he’s more than willing to join forces.
Playing with the Portland Trail Blazers over the past two years has rekindled his passion for the game. He is a 10-time All-Star and future Hall of Famer. He’s embraced his position as a backup and thrived last season, scoring 13.4 points per game. If Anthony can average 25-30 minutes per game with comparable statistics, the Lakers will have a strong chance to repeat as NBA champs.
Trevor Ariza is a 36-year-old man.
Trevor Ariza seems to always have a job in the NBA since he is the ideal forward for today’s game. The only issue is that Ariza is 36 years old and has logged a lot of miles on his legs. The veteran has now played in the league for 16 years.
Ariza has previously played for a number of title hopefuls, notably the Los Angeles Lakers, with whom he won his first championship in 2009. When there are injuries or load management, Ariza is likely to play garbage minutes or become a role player.
Centers
Marc Gasol is a 36-year-old basketball player.
Because of his NBA and international experience, Gasol is one of the most seasoned players in the league right now. Last season, Gasol averaged 5.0 points and 4.1 rebounds per game, but his influence will be felt well beyond those statistics.
Gasol’s stature (6’11”) will be an issue for the Lakers in the paint. Gasol will likely split minutes with Dwight Howard and Anthony Davis in small-ball combinations since he is a great passer and can shoot the three when open.
Dwight Howard is a 35-year-old actor.
Dwight Howard should never have departed Los Angeles since he was such an important part of the Lakers’ championship pursuit in 2020. Last year, his defensive expertise and grit were desperately required since players do not have the same desire for dirty labor as Howard.
Dwight isn’t the same guy who won three Defensive Player of the Year Awards, but he’s a solid role player who averaged 7.0 points and 8.4 rebounds a game in 17.3 minutes per game.
Will the Lakers be able to win the NBA title with such an aging roster?
The Lakers are the favorites to win it all if they remain healthy. LeBron James is the smartest player on the planet, and his presence alone elevates any team to championship contention. If James is well and rested, he will be a top-5 player on the All-Star Team. Similarly, when healthy, Anthony Davis is the greatest big man in the NBA, and he will return.
Russell Westbrook, the greatest point guard in the NBA, adds fire, intensity, and domination to the point guard position, completing the strongest Big Three in the NBA, second only to the Brooklyn Nets. The Lakers, on the other hand, have a stronger roster than the Nets. Malik Monk, Kendrick Nunn, and Talen Horton-Tucker are all excellent role players in their prime. Future Hall of Famers Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, and Marc Gasol will join them, all of whom are still productive at their age.
Even though the Nets have three superstars in their prime, the Lakers’ role players are much superior, rebounding, defending, and shooting at a greater rate. The NBA’s oldest roster will become champions if the players remain healthy and team chemistry develops throughout the regular season.
Next
NBA Free Agency Grades: The Los Angeles Lakers Are The Biggest Winners, Stephen Curry Deserves $215 Million, and DeMar DeRozan Joins The Exciting Chicago Bulls
The Los Angeles Lakers’ Offseason Moves Are Graded: Carmelo Anthony Is Finally In LA, And Kendrick Nunn Is A Great Steal
Starting Lineups for the Chicago Bulls in 2018 and 2021: From Lottery Team to East Contenders
Kevin Love Could Be The Next Player To Join The Lakers, According To NBA Rumors
NBA Players Who Turned Down Big Contracts And Regretted It: Nerlens Noel, Victor Oladipo, and Latrell Sprewell may all be joined by Dennis Schroder.
Related Tags
- los angeles lakers record
- lakers 2021
- los angeles lakers roster
