Requiem For A King: How the Lakers changed their history in 5 years
As LeBron James prepares for his first official game with the Los Angeles Lakers, let’s take a look back at how it all came together
Just two days before the anniversary of the birth of America, the King of basketball decided on his next NBA venture.
Instead of taking the much adored and player friendly “1 and 1,” which is a one year contract with a one year player option to stay another year, LeBron James agreed upon a four-year, $153 Million contract with the 16-time NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers.
What this does, is change the course of history for the Lakeshow.
Let’s turn the clocks back to 2013. The Lakers gave the Black Mamba himself, Kobe Bryant, a two-year, $48.5 million contract as a “thank you” for his what would end up being 20 years of service. (Kobe must have had a great agent, more on that later)
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For reference, I was watching the Muppet Show on VHS tapes by the time Kobe was drafted, and then traded to the Lakers. However, as loyal of a contract it may seem, it set in motion the tank. Following this, was the absolutely horrendous contracts of Timofey Mozgov and Luol Deng, where hundreds of millions were splashed on slightly above average players.
The Lakers then fielded a backcourt of D’Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson, with Larry Nance, Jr. and Julius Randle. Coached by what Laker Nation calls “Tank Commander” Byron Scott. Eventually, Lakers president Jeanie Buss fired her brother, Jim, as well as longtime G.M. Mitch Kupchak.
Replacing the two and building a contender in LA would be nothing short of magical for Lakers fans. Fortunately, that’s exactly what Jeanie had in mind. She hired the face of 80’s basketball and arguably the greatest Laker ever in Magic Johnson. Following the magic man and taking over as General Manager is Rob Lowe cosplayer Rob Pelinka. Pelinka has deep ties to the Lakers and basketball in general, being Kobe Bryant’s former agent.
Magic and Pelinka worked quickly in setting up their future. They hired former Laker turned assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors Luke Walton, and slowly began to change the roster. Letting go of Mozgov, then trading away D’Angelo Russell, followed by drafting Lonzo Ball, the Lakers began to put together a team fit for a King. During the middle of the 2017 season, the Lakers traded away Larry Nance Jr. and Jordan Clarkson, freeing up not one, but TWO max slots for the future.
The 2017 season came to a close, as it saw the Lakers improve on their last season, but still be on the outside looking in. It was still apparent that Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, and Josh Hart, although good players, were still not enough to lead the team back to the playoffs. The team needed more.
Jeanie Buss needs some more championships, more banners to hang in the Staples Center. In the summer of 2018, Jeanie placed the final piece of her hopeful championship puzzle with one man: LeBron James.
The King arrived in Los Angeles to obviously gigantic fanfare, and some hatred from narrow-minded Kobe fans, even as far as vandalizing murals of James that were painted throughout Los Angeles. However, it will not be long before James is bronzed outside Staples, as the greatest player possibly ever to play the game, will excel in this high powered and high octane Lakers offense.
LeBron gets to play in an up-tempo, go-go-go offense for the first time in his career, playing with young guns like Ingram and Hart flanking him. The ball movement will be a sight to behold as not only James will be throwing the ball around, as will two of the most talented passers in basketball in Lonzo Ball and newly signed Rajon Rondo. Kyle Kuzma will continue to improve and mark my words: Javale McGee will become a cult hero in Los Angeles, reaching sights not seen since the Swaggy P days of yesteryear.
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The Los Angeles Lakers, for the first time in over five years, are going to be in the playoffs. For the first time in the careers of Ball, Ingram, Kuzma, Hart, and more. The first time as a head coach for Luke Walton, and the first time in the Western Conference for LeBron James. The path won’t be easy, but the city of Angels just need to sit back, and follow the King into battle.
LeBron James signing with the Lakers sets Los Angeles on a course for excellence. Where a big-name signing with that handy dandy extra max slot, and a championship within the next five years will be a failure. Showtime is back in L.A. and the expectations have never been higher.
Long live the King.