The NBA Returns Tuesday, but All Eyes Are on LeBron and the Lakers
James looked as strong and sharp as ever in preseason.
By Shahan Ahmed ••
The NBA is back.
The Lakers are back.
Sure, opening night of the 2018-19 NBA season doesn't feature the Los Angeles Lakers, but that doesn't mean all eyes aren't on LA. They are. The Lakers have the best basketball player on the planet dressed in a noticeably undersized gold jersey that serves to only further enhance a physique that would intimidate all of Mount Olympus.
With one $164 million stroke of the pen, LeBron James has transformed the complexion of the Los Angeles Lakers, basketball and the NBA like only a superstar of his statuesque stature could.
Shahan Ahmed
Shahan Ahmed
Josh Hart of the Los Angeles Lakers at practice in El Segundo ahead of the NBA season opener on Oct. 15, 2018 (Shahan Ahmed/KNBC)
Shahan Ahmed
LeBron James walks off the Los Angeles Lakers' practice court on Oct. 15, 2018 (Shahan Ahmed/KNBC)
Shahan Ahmed
Kyle Kuzma of the Los Angeles Lakers practices on Oct. 15, 2018 in El Segundo, California.
Shahan Ahmed
Brandon Ingram at Los Angeles Lakers practice on Oct. 15, 2018 at the UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, California. (Shahan Ahmed/KNBC)
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LeBron James #23 and Lance Stephenson #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrate after James made a shot against the Golden State Warriors and was fouled during their preseason game at T-Mobile Arena on October 10, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors drives against LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers during their preseason game at T-Mobile Arena on October 10, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Lakers defeated the Warriors 123-113. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers brings the ball up the court against the Golden State Warriors during their preseason game at T-Mobile Arena on October 10, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Lakers defeated the Warriors 123-113. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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Tobias Harris #34 of the LA Clippers defends against Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half of a NBA preseason game at Honda Center on October 6, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the LA Clippers defends against Brandon Ingram #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half of a NBA preseason game at Honda Center on October 6, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
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Ivica Zubac #40 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks to pass during the second half of a NBA preseason game against the LA Clippers at Honda Center on October 6, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
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LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers is congratulated by his teammate Brandon Ingram #14 and Josh Hart #3 after scoring a basket and getting fouled against Sacramento Kings during the first half at Staples Center on October 4, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
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Head coach Luke Walton of the Los Angeles talks with LeBron James #23 during a pre-season basketball game against Sacramento Kingsat Staples Center on October 4, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
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LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates his dunk in front of Brandon Ingram #14 during a preseason game against the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center on October 2, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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Brandon Ingram #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts as he inbounds the ball during a preseason against the Denver Nuggets game at Staples Center on October 2, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers high fives Rajon Rondo #9 during a preseason game against the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center on October 2, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles waits during a preseason game against the Denver Nuggets at Valley View Casino Center on September 30, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks to pass in front of Will Barton #5 and Mason Plumlee #24 of the Denver Nuggets during a preseason game at Valley View Casino Center on September 30, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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LeBron James #23, Rajon Rondo #9, JaVale McGee #7 and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers talk after a stop in play during a preseason game against the Denver Nuggets at Valley View Casino Center on September 30, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Shahan Ahmed
LeBron James will play on Sunday in the Los Angeles Lakers' preseason opener, according to Lakers coach Luke Walton at Lakers' practice on Sept. 27, 2018. Sunday in San Diego will be the first time James wears a Lakers' uniform in a game. (Shahan Ahmed/NBCLA)
Shahan Ahmed
LeBron James is all business at Los Angeles Lakers' training camp on Sept. 29, 2018 in El Segundo, California. (Shahan Ahmed/NBCLA)
Shahan Ahmed
(Shahan Ahmed/NBCLA)
Shahan Ahmed
Lonzo Ball laughs while working on shooting drills at Los Angeles Lakers' training camp on Sept. 29, 2018 in El Segundo, California.
Shahan Ahmed
Lonzo Ball and LeBron James at Los Angeles Lakers' training camp on Sept. 29, 2018 in El Segundo, California. (Shahan Ahmed/NBCLA)
Shahan Ahmed
Lonzo Ball and Sviatoslav Mykhaiiuk take part in shooting drills at Los Angeles Lakers' training camp on Sept. 29, 2018 in El Segundo, California. (Shahan Ahmed/NBCLA)
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Close up shot of LeBron James speaking to media following Lakers' practice in El Segundo. (Shahan Ahmed/NBCLA)
Shahan Ahmed
Kyle Kuzma works alongside LeBron James after Los Angeles Lakers practice during training camp in El Segundo on Sept. 27, 2018. (Shahan Ahmed/NBCLA)
Shahan Ahmed
LeBron James is mostly serious when questioned by media following the training session in El Segundo, Ca on Sept. 27, 2018. (Shahan Ahmed/NBCLA)
Shahan Ahmed
Lonzo Ball speaks to reporters after completing his first full contact practice on Sept. 27, 2018. Ball's involvement for Sunday's preseason opener was in doubt. (Shahan Ahmed)
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But Lonzo didn't seem to be too upset about potentially missing a preseason game. (Shahan Ahmed)
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LeBron James continued to take a business-like approach to speaking with reporters during Los Angeles Lakers' 2018 training camp at UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, California on Sept. 27, 2018 (Shahan Ahmed/NBCLA)
Shahan Ahmed
LeBron James wears the no. 6 at practice, which could be confused for the no. 9 in this photo. (Shahan Ahmed/NBCLA)
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Speaking of no. 9, Rajon Rondo and teammates Lonzo Ball and Svi Mykhailiuk practice at the Los Angeles Lakers' 2018 training camp at UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, California on Sept. 27, 2018 (Shahan Ahmed/NBCLA)
Shahan Ahmed
Kyle Kuzma got shots up with LeBron James after practice and drew praise from the Los Angeles Lakers' newest franchise superstar at UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, California on Sept. 27, 2018 (Shahan Ahmed/NBCLA)
Shahan Ahmed
Practice is no joke for LeBron James. (Shahan Ahmed/NBCLA)
Shahan Ahmed
Svi Mykhailiuk, who is advertised as rookie with shooting ability, takes part in a shooting drill during Los Angeles Lakers' 2018 training camp at UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, California on Sept. 27, 2018 (Shahan Ahmed/NBCLA)
Shahan Ahmed
Even center JaVale McGee takes pride in shooting three-pointers after practice during the Los Angeles Lakers' 2018 training camp at UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, California on Sept. 27, 2018 (Shahan Ahmed/NBCLA)
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LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts as he speaks to the media during the Los Angeles Lakers Media Day at the UCLA Health Training Center on September 24, 2018 in El Segundo, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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Head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers Luke Walton, laughs with the press during the Los Angeles Lakers Media Day at the UCLA Health Training Center on September 24, 2018 in El Segundo, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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Rajon Rondo of the Los Angeles Lakers speaks to the press during the Los Angeles Lakers Media Day at the UCLA Health Training Center on September 24, 2018 in El Segundo, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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Lakers president Earvin "Magic" Johnson and general manager Rob Pelinka speak about the 2018-19 Los Angeles Lakers season on Sept. 20, 2018 in El Segundo, California (Shahan Ahmed/NBCLA)
On the court, the best comparison for James is Earvin "Magic" Johnson, but James plays in a different era and is a different player than the five-time champion. Johnson's not-so-subtle purpose is to bring the Lakers a title in honor of the late Dr. Jerry Buss—Johnson's mentor and longtime owner of the Lakers.
With James, Johnson brought magic back to the Lakers. Now, the Lakers are closer to a title than they've been since Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher were celebrating with an open palm to mark five titles in 2010.
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Eight years later, the Lakers look ready to escape out of a black hole that featured a five-year postseason drought.
Now, the games finally count. The Lakers are no longer a lottery team or even a fringe playoff team. With James, the Lakers are a playoff team. However, the Lakers don't enter the season as favorites to win the Western Conference.
The Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors are clear and away the top two teams in the conference. The Warriors begin their season on Tuesday with a ring ceremony, and the regular season champion Rockets begin their season on Wednesday—both before the Lakers tip-off on Thursday in a tough game against Portland.
The Blazers are a better team, especially at home, than the Lakers on day No. 1 of the season, so a defeat at Portland shouldn't come as a shock or even a setback. Even with James on the roster, the Lakers winning in Portland would be an impressive accomplishment.
On Saturday, the Lakers begin a new era with James taking the Staples Center home court in a game that matters for the first time. The excitement is impossible to contain for the city, and the atmosphere at Staples Center on a regular season night promises to rival, possibly beat the electricity on offer at an October night at Dodger Stadium.
It's James' team now, and the Lakers can be a real problem come playoff time. Regardless of seeding, James on the Lakers makes them an automatic championship contender. Initially, though, the Lakers expect to have defensive deficiencies that will cost the team games.
Offensively, James' addition alone elevates the team, especially in late game situations. Rajon Rondo is one of the smartest NBA minds in the league by nearly all accounts, and Rondo is looking like the likely starter to on opening night.
That convenient decision comes due to Lonzo Ball missing most of preseason and still working on his conditioning. Ball's addition to the second unit, regardless of how ephemeral, only promises even more fluidity for a player like Kyle Kuzma.
Given that the Lakers expect to start JaVale McGee with James and Brandon Ingram in the front court, Kuzma should be the Lakers' stable scoring sixth man. Ball's addition to the second unit—or Rondo's if Lakers coach Luke Walton decides to switch the point guards at any stage during the season—should only improve Kuzma's chances of capturing the Sixth Man of the Year award.
Kuzma may not be the favorite, but if he can provide the scoring punch he routinely administered during his rookie season, the proud Flint, Michigan native should be in the running for the award.
Josh Hart may start, or Kentavious Caldwell-Pope may get the starting shooting guard spot. The former is probably a better fit for the second unit than the latter. Hart, to his credit, fits better with both units, but Caldwell-Pope offers far more utility as a starter than coming off the bench. So, Hart playing as a backup that regularly finishes games seems to make the most sense for maximizing the roster.
Michael Beasley and Lance Stevenson are two players than expect to get minutes off the bench, as well, but neither is in the conversation to regularly start for the Lakers because LA is banking on the youth of Ingram, Hart, Kuzma and Ball to develop during the season.
James and Rondo arriving to provide a championship level of leadership and knowledge should only assist that growth process for the individuals and the team as a whole.
To his credit, James looked as strong and sharp as ever in preseason. He displayed the type of form that should erase enough mistakes to get the team early wins it probably doesn't deserve. Regardless of how the season starts, though, the Lakers have enough talent and depth to make the playoffs, even in a loaded Western Conference.
Once in the postseason, the Lakers have James, so they are automatically championship contenders. Betting on the best player on the planet in a best-of-seven series isn't a bad bet. Yes, the Lakers are back to being championship contenders, and that status should only improve in a year's time when Johnson and James look to use open salary cap space and a playoff tested, developing roster to lure another superstar to LA—with Kevin Durant's name conspicuously floating about.
But the conversation about who will join James can wait for another summer. The superstar's arrival in LA has already propelled the most popular brand in the history of the league back to the forefront of the 82-game NBA drama—and well beyond that point if one considers James' entertainment projects.
On Tuesday, the NBA returns, and this season, the Lakers are back.
