Showtime Back in No Time
JOSHUA THAI Staff Writer
In the most recent NBA offseason, there were many trades and signings that shocked the basketball world. Trades like Kawhi Leonard for DeMar DeRozan or signings such as DeMarcus Cousins to the Warriors, left NBA fans in shock. The most notable event in the offseason, however, had to be LeBron James signing a four-year, $154 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. James became an unrestricted free agent on June 29, 2018, backing out of the final year of his contract in Cleveland and giving him the opportunity to join virtually any team he wanted. Many teams were speculated for James to join, but the Los Angeles Lakers stood on top as a contender.
On July 2, 2018, LeBron James and his agency announced that James would be joining the Lakers. This caused excitement from Lakers fans, giving them hope for the new season to come. With James in L.A. along with other talented athletes, the so called Showtime Lakers could very soon be returning. Showtime was an era in Los Angeles Lakers history where the players heavily relied on fast breaks and flashy passes. This era was led by Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Magic Johnson, who together won five NBA championships.
One of the main goals of showtime is to make the games entertaining. With the new season coming up, the Showtime Lakers will be back and better than ever. LeBron James, arguably one of the greatest players in basketball history, will have no problem making basketball games entertaining. In the 2017-2018 season, James averaged 27.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 9.1 assists. With these statistics and his knowledge of the game, James can make almost any game fun to watch, but James was not the only player the Lakers received in the offseason. Rajon Rondo, Lance Stephenson, and JaVale McGee are just some of the players the Lakers have picked up. Rondo, known for his passes and ball handling, will be a main component in bringing back the Showtime Lakers. Although he and James have not gotten along in the past, Stephenson will play a large role on the team, helping to create fast breaks.
Growing talent is plentiful on the team, as well. Players in their second year, such as Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma and Josh Hart will be crucial to the team and making plays. In addition, rookies on the Lakers will likely be making noise, as they need to prove themselves in their first year.
With the preseason starting, it will be interesting to see the chemistry between the team and have a glimpse of what is to come in the future. As the season continues, it can only get better for the Lakers and their pursuit for an NBA championship.