The Los Angeles Lakers is an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA), as a member of the league’s Western Conference in the Pacific Division. The Lakers play their home games at Staples Center, an arena shared with the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers, the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women’s National Basketball Association, and the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League. The Lakers are one of the most successful teams in the history of the NBA, and have won 16 NBA championships, the second-most behind the Boston Celtics.

With the Lakers being one of the biggest name teams in sports history and picking up arguably the best player of all time, LeBron James, they still seem to be struggling to find wins down the stretch. The Lakers record is a whopping 32-41, and this year is the first time LeBron James hasn’t had a postseason since 2005.  Eric Clark (’20) shared his thoughts about this dilemma: “LeBron is still one of – if not the greatest – because he can’t do it by himself every single year.  He isn’t young anymore and all of this weight shouldn’t be put on his shoulders year in and year out.” 

Jason Paphites (’19) and his family had much to say about the Buss family, the owners of the LA Lakers.  He said, “They seem to have given up and eager to start a brand new foundation with new players and new franchise players.” Mr. Woodhouse, who is not a big fan of the Lakers, stressed the fact that “they waste money and don’t prepare their younger guys for the future.” When asking about the new additions to the team, not including LeBron James, people have a wide variety of opinions.  

Recent news on the LA Lakers, unfortunately, revealed that legendary Coach Luke Walton, son of NBA Legend Bill Walton, is finding it in his heart to try and find a new home and resign as the coach of the LA Lakers. With the LA Lakers not making the playoffs, the GM staff and coaching staff have made the executive decision to sit LeBron James and let him start his off season a month early. Over the course of the season, many people on the roster have suffered injuries that put them out for long periods of time including players Rajon Rondo and Kentavious Caldwell Pope who missed nearly half of the season. Along with these injuries, most players on the court have developed bad blood toward coach Luke Walton because, during the All-Star break, he proposed a trade for NBA All-Star Anthony Davis. With this trade, a possible seven players may be sent off to another team.