The signing of Russell Westbrook was thought to have a great impact on the purple and gold but it just did not work out for LeBron James and co as the Lakers disappointed.
Follow Us
The Los Angeles Lakers hired Darvin Ham to be their head coach and guide LeBron James and co in the NBA next season. The Lakers were very poor last season and just did not seem to function as a team and rather played like a collection of individuals. The signing of Russell Westbrook was thought to have a great impact on the purple and gold but it just did not work out as the Lakers failed to even make it to the play-in tournament.
NBA analyst and pundit Stephen A. Smith has stated that LeBron James will not win an NBA championship with this Los Angeles Lakers side. Smith was on ESPN’s NBA Countdown when he was asked about LeBron’s title hopes. He said, “None. No championships but postseason participation, yes. When we talk about championships, you got to look at the Clippers, the Suns, the Warriors, the Mavericks, the Timberwolves, Zion Williamson now with New Orleans. These are all teams you think about before you even get to the Lakers and the Nuggets, with Murray and Porter Jr coming back. But listen, Darvin Ham, I am so happy for him, he deserves this opportunity and there is no question about it, he is going to elevate the level of toughness.”
Read more: Richard Jefferson picks Luka Doncic as the number one player in NBA
Smith then went on to talk about Russell Westbrook and said that he is not finished like what others are claiming and gave him advice on how to better his game. “You look at Russell Westbrook, it’s a wild card because I don’t believe Russell Westbrook is finished”, he said. “I believe Russell Westbrook still has something in him. Here is the issue. Russell Westbrook has to look at basketball from film and stop thinking that every time somebody critiques his game, they are character assassinating him. No. no one is talking about Russell Westbrook’s character. He is a good dude. But you don’t have a jump shot and struggle with your free throw shooting too and turning over the basketball. Let’s fix that and then you might have a chance to make some noise if you are the Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James.”
In the same interview, former NBA player, Jalen Rose said that the key to Darvin Ham’s success in Los Angeles solely depends on one player and that is Anthony Davis. He reasoned out by saying, “It has to do with Anthony Davis. Of course, he (Darvin Ham) is not a doctor and can’t keep him healthy but if Anthony Davis can give them remotely 65 to 70 games throughout the regular season. Darvin helped develop Al Horford, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis. If they can get Anthony Davis playing like an all NBA player, that means LeBron doesn’t have to carry the load throughout the regular season and he will be fresh for the playoffs.”
