Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts after scoringAP
The J.J. Redick era with the Lakers got off to a promising start with a 10-4 record. Anthony Davis was playing at an MVP level, while 39-year-old LeBron James was posting three straight triple-doubles and proving that age is just a number. However, this initial hope for change is quickly turning into a reflection of last season. Since those first 14 games, the Lakers have struggled and are now 13-12. LeBron is injured, Anthony Davis no longer displays the same dominance, and the rest of the roster – mostly role players – has failed to step up. Not to mention Redick’s inability to react in adverse situations, which has further exposed the team’s struggles.
Snoop Dogg Calls Out Lakers’ Struggles
In the midst of their current struggles, one of the Lakers’ most recognizable celebrity fans – no, not Jack Nicholson – spoke out about the team’s situation and addressed LeBron James’ age. That celebrity is Snoop Dogg, who appeared on First Take alongside Stephen A. Smith and Cam Newton. Snoop commented on LeBron saying, “He’s going to play on his age. I’m an old man too, so I do that sometimes. I can sleep in and cancel certain events. So you can do that, LeBron, you sleep in.” Snoop also criticized the lack of effort by owner Jeanie Buss and general manager Rob Pelinka to improve the team.
I completely agree with Snoop’s comments about Buss and Pelinka. The Lakers have gone three seasons without really adding a third star to back up LeBron and Davis. With the current roster, I don’t see them beating major Western Conference contenders like the Thunder, Mavericks or Grizzlies in a playoff series. Recently, I mentioned that the Lakers should be one of the most active teams when the trade season begins. If they want to tie the Celtics as the franchise with the most titles and help LeBron secure his fifth ring, significant roster upgrades are a must.
LeBron’s Injury Sparks Rumors and Speculation
The Lakers have enough players and draft picks to bring a heavyweight to the team and form a Big Three alongside James and Davis. D’Angelo Russell seems to have reached his ceiling and isn’t the player they need to complement their stars. Meanwhile, players like Austin Reaves and Dalton Knecht need more time to develop and solidify their roles and of course Bronny James isn’t an option. So far, the burden of trying to be that third piece to support the All-Stars hasn’t worked out. Last night’s loss to the Timberwolves was a clear example of how the team would struggle to compete if LeBron’s absence was prolonged due to injury or if Anthony Davis were to get hurt.
LeBron’s absence has sparked additional intrigue due to rumors linking him to Sean “Diddy” Combs. The rumors gained traction after an old Instagram Live video resurfaced of LeBron praising Diddy’s parties, saying, “There’s no party like a Diddy party.” However, these are just rumors with no concrete evidence. Throughout his 22-year career, LeBron has never had off-court issues, and it’s hard to imagine such problems arising this late in his career.
The Lakers’ schedule doesn’t offer much relief. They have three tough games before their Christmas Day matchup with the Warriors. First, they host Ja Morant’s Grizzlies, a team that has a history with the Lakers due to their playoff elimination two seasons ago and is always looking to beat them – preferably in humiliating fashion. Then the Lakers play back-to-back games in Sacramento, a team known for its up-tempo, high-scoring offense. Notably, Los Angeles is 4-10 in its last 14 games against the Kings. Finally, they face the Warriors on Christmas Day, another team desperate for an All-Star player to help their season.
