The Los Angeles Lakers have a clear goal in mind this season: winning the NBA Championship.
LeBron James considered leaving the Lakers this summer, but this shows he’s clearly focused on winning a fifth title.
They have two of the sport’s biggest stars in James and Luka Doncic, a highly touted young coach in JJ Redick, and a talented complement of players led by Austin Reeves.
At Lakers practice, there’s a screen on the baseline that reads “Championship Habits, Championship Communication, Championship Shape.” It is important to win everything this season, both internally and externally.
But words and the Lakers’ actions tell a different story. After the way they approached this preseason, are they really working on their championship habits, communication, and getting into shape?
James and Doncic missed preseason games as Redick and the Lakers preached championship form. James is suffering from nerve inflammation in his hip, but is expected to return for the Lakers’ season opener.
Meanwhile, Doncic is playing in EuroBasket this summer and is resting up for the season. Doncic is in the best shape of his life after a summer workout, but the Lakers want to be cautious with their superstar ahead of a long season.
Taken individually, these decisions make sense. James is 40 years old and has had a growing list of historic injuries in recent years. Meanwhile, Doncic is being relieved of the task of carrying the Slovenian team at EuroBasket, and may be able to take some weight off his shoulders for the time being.
However, the Lakers have a revamped roster and very high expectations heading into the season.
Deandre Ayton has signed with Los Angeles, hoping to reinvigorate his career after a disappointing season with the Portland Trail Blazers.
But when asked what it was like to play alongside James and Doncic, Ayton said, “I haven’t. I’m just waiting.”
With less than two weeks until the NBA season, neither Lakers superstar is playing on their most important contracts this summer. That’s not championship preparation.
And with a long NBA season ahead of them, there are no games the Lakers can afford to throw away while trying to build chemistry early in the year.
James has been afforded the luxury of entering the season comfortably in years past, especially during his time in the Eastern Conference, but that won’t be the case for the Lakers this year.
The West is stronger than ever, and the Lakers risk missing out on the playoffs if they fall behind. There is no margin for error.
The Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant’s Houston Rockets, and the rebuilt Denver Nuggets are likely to dominate the conference. This doesn’t take into account the Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves, who also enter this year with title hopes.
There are at least eight teams in the West that have a realistic chance of winning. That means at least seven people will think this season was a failure at the end of the year.
And while the Lakers’ decision to rest their star players in the preseason seems justified, it means they will likely have to struggle into the postseason after the All-Star break.