The budding relationship between fifth-year forward Rui Hachimura and four-time MVP LeBron James has been a major storyline during the offseason for the resurgent Los Angeles Lakers. Reports of the two working out together have become common. At Lakers’ media day, James jokingly compared their relationship to the characters from the movie “The Karate Kid.” James is now officially the oldest active player in the NBA with the retirement of Udonis Haslem and the likely retirement of Andre Iguodala. Despite his age, James proved that he is still a superstar on the court last season. However, with teammates who are at least a decade younger than him, James no longer has to carry the team on his own. He has a group of young teammates who are eager to learn from him and support him.
New Lakers big man Christian Wood praised the team’s depth, saying that no other team in the league has as much depth as the Lakers. This was the goal of the Lakers’ offseason, as they aimed to build a balanced and skilled roster. The majority of the players who played significant minutes in the postseason last year are back on the team, along with new additions Gabe Vincent and Wood. The team also added young talents Taurean Prince, Cam Reddish, and Jaxson Hayes to their bench. Lakers coach Darvin Ham explained that the team’s goal is to surround James and Anthony Davis with players who are eager to contribute and help them win, allowing the team to better manage James’ minutes.
Last season, managing James’ minutes was challenging for the Lakers due to their lack of depth and Davis’ absence due to injury. James had to take on a significant burden just to keep the team competitive. However, Davis stated that his goal this season is to play all 82 games, prioritizing his availability for the team’s championship aspirations. James acknowledged the importance of Davis’ health and referred to him as the face of the franchise. To achieve their potential, the Lakers will need Davis to maintain his dominance for longer stretches. The supporting players, who played a crucial role in the Lakers’ success last season, will also need to continue benefiting from James’ presence. The Lakers’ transformation from an older star-driven team to a younger and more balanced roster was key to their improvement, and they plan to continue that transformation moving forward.
