Can LeBron lead his team to glory? This season the Los Angeles Lakers worried more about marketing than filling the team’s cracks.
The previous season ended, with a defeat in five games against Denver Nuggets In the first round of the playoffs, expectations were good. A couple of right moves, some structural corrections, and the Lakers could compete. In fact, they had done so against what were, at the time, the reigning champions.
The series, on paper, seemed easier for Denver than it ultimately was. The purple and gold team could compete. That was good news.
However, the sensations were not enough to convince the board. Jeanie Bussowner of the franchise, and Rob Pelinkageneral manager, succumbed to the energy of marketing. But of course, Jeanie is not her father Jerry, who knew that behind a good marketing move there must be a competitive team to support it. The show is important, of course, but it is not the only thing: without a roster worthy of the Larry O’Brien trophy, with the cousins in green champions in 2023-24, the lights instead of accompanying them will serve to reveal the inevitable .
The Lakers are close to failure as a result of thinking too much about their surroundings and little about the game itself.
“Not only is it a global brand, it’s our leader,” said Jeannie Buss about LeBron James. “Did you see how he played in the Olympic Games? We could be talking about the best player of all time.”
We will not enter into that discussion because, at least in this installment, it makes no sense. But we already know the pain that the owner of the Lakers caused to Jerry West, Mr. Logo, for not even mentioning him among the best Lakers in history. Personal problems aside, it’s crazy. Therefore, we must be careful with value judgments. Now, if it were to remain in words, go ahead and pass, but… Is it necessary to hand over the sum of public power to James, who is not even a core player of the franchise?
Not only that. Let’s reaffirm. It is giving everything at your disposal to a player who today, by his own means, does not lead to a championship. In the Orlando bubble, the Lakers won a title with a team that was actually much better than the one they have today. Because LeBron had better teammates around him. To cite some examples: Alex Caruso, Danny Green, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Rajon Rondo, Kyle Kuzma, Dwight Howard. Other times, all younger and some with experience of having won things before. A good mix of veterans and young people.
Today the Lakers are a birthday party for LeBron. It’s sad, a little embarrassing, but they have put together what appears to be a farewell event for the NBA. After getting rid of Frank Vogel after two seasons (he won a title) and Darvin Ham after one (he won the NBA Cup, although few care), Los Angeles turned to JJ Redick, James’ podcast partner, whose experience is zero. It is true, Pat Riley also had no experience, but he had spent a year as Paul Westhead’s assistant. It’s not the same. The message is harmful: if our star is comfortable, then okay.
Not happy with that, Pelinka ‘drafted’ Bronny James. The King’s son. A marketing move that confused everyone, not only for daring to sign a player who is far from the NBA level, but also for giving him a position on the team. Well, it’s a second round, it’s not that serious. Isn’t it so serious? The medium is the message: to put the first father-son duo in NBA history on the court, the Lakers are willing to sacrifice an entire season.
Very poor for what is the second most winning franchise of all time.
The season will begin on October 22, but I’m going to be reckless with the spoiler: it’s going to be a nightmare. Because the squad is the same (with its problems, its big problems, and its virtues), because they trust too much that a second healthy unit will emerge with Jarred Vanderbilt y Gabe Vincent as a protagonist, because a healthy course is taken for granted without taking into account the recurring problems of injuries of Anthony Davis, fundamental in this structure, because there is too much expectation with rookie Dalton Knecht, and because LeBron will turn 40 in December. Did you compare the champion Celtics team with the Lakers? Did they at least take that trouble? Is it necessary to lie to yourself like this?
LeBron James smiles, at media day, for the photo. It’s Citizen Kane at his own gala dinner. Everyone around him smiles back. It’s just a matter of time: wait for the first stone to hit the window. And at that moment, some improvised person on duty will shout the magic words: The King is naked!
By the time the rest see it, it will be too late.
Too late.
