It has been four seasons since the Los Angeles Lakers won their last championship in the 2020 Disney Bubble by defeating the Miami Heat. Since then, LeBron James and his squad have made the playoffs three times, not bad, and reached the Western Conference Finals, where they were swept by the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets went on to win the championship that year, again defeating also the Heat. From that 2020 championship team, only LeBron, Anthony Davis, Jeanie Buss, and Rob Pelinka remain. Key players like Carmelo Anthony, Rajon Rondo, Dwight Howard, and 2017 MVP and 2x Scoring Champ Russell Westbrook have all come and gone in the years since.

LeBron Defends Himself and Westbrook After Broadcast Criticism

Westbrook spent nearly two full seasons with the Lakers but was never quite the player he was in Oklahoma City, or perhaps he wasn’t allowed to be. Rumors and criticism from fans followed him during much of his time in LA, and his body language often reflected a player under immense pressure. Many believed Westbrook was a problem within the team, a scapegoat for poor results, especially since his arrival coincided with the Lakers missing the playoffs that season.These comments remain a topic of discussion, even though Westbrook played all of last season with the Clippers, where he clearly performed better than with the Lakers.

Now with the Denver Nuggets, Westbrook is chasing his first title alongside 3x MVP Nikola Jokic. In a preseason game between the Celtics and Nuggets, a Celtics broadcaster commented that “Russell Westbrook became the Lakers’ scapegoat when he played with LeBron.” These remarks went viral, prompting LeBron James to respond on X (formerly Twitter). LeBron not only defended himself but also praised Westbrook. The broadcaster’s comment seemed out of place, given that it was unrelated to LeBron or the game, but he was likely trying to stand up for Westbrook after the criticism he endured in LA. However, it’s safe to say the broadcaster didn’t expect LeBron to catch wind of the comment, let alone respond.

Lakers Ready to Compete in the West

This season, the Lakers are determined to win another championship and once again tie the reigning champion Boston Celtics with 18 titles apiece. The roster looks almost identical to last year’s, led by a healthy Anthony Davis, arguably the most important player on the team, and the GOAT, LeBron James, who in his 22nd season will continue proving that age is just a number as he’s the oldest player again in the league.

The team also drafted Bronny James as he’s entering his first season, though he only averaged seven points in six Summer League games. Rookie head coach J.J. Redick will also rely on D’Angelo Russell, along with key rotation players like Austin Reaves, Cam Reddish, and Rui Hachimura, all of whom logged the most minutes last season. With this stability, the Lakers are poised for a strong regular season, especially with LeBron sharing the court with his son. Their early season will be tough, facing Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves in their second game after the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics kick off the season on October 22.