The Lakers 2022-23 season preview
Will this Lakers roster live up to expectations? Here's a look at what's changing and what's remaining for the '22-'23 season
Gary Guillory
Will LeBron James pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the all-time scoring list this season? Photo via Lakers Instagram
Will this Lakers roster live up to expectations? Here's a look at what's changing and what's remaining for the '22-'23 season
With the 2022-23 NBA season just around the corner, the Los Angeles Lakers are hoping for a more promising season after missing the playoffs. The Lakers made many changes, from replacing Frank Vogel with head coach Darvin Ham, to building a better roster around LeBron James.
Will the Lakers trio actually play more than 21 games?
Will this Lakers trio be able to play more than 21 games together? Photo via NBA Official Website
All eyes are on the trio of LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook. High expectations and availability made last season very disappointing and fans are hoping that’ll change this season. LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook could only play 21 games together because of the injuries James and Davis suffered during the season.
With head coach Darvin Ham taking over this Lakers team there is a lot of pressure on coaching this team but Ham is not phased by the pressure. During his introductory press conference, Ham was asked if he felt any pressure coaching the Lakers and he responded by saying “I was shot in the face by accident [...] It made me fearless. I don’t feel any pressure. It’s basketball.”
Ham has optimism that this trio can finally figure out what went wrong last season. The press asked Ham about his vision of how LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook can play together and Ham responded saying “It’s how can they compete together, It starts on the defensive end and from there we’re gonna build back toward the offense.”
Ham has clarified that Davis is the key to this team and its success. Ham also mentioned that the trio had shifted their mindsets to be more aggressive, via Jovan Buha of The Athletic. Ham also mentioned that Davis at the center position is under heavy construction, via Mike Trudell on Twitter.
The Russell Westbrook Situation
Will Russell Westbrook improve his game or fall apart? Photo via Lakers official website
Everyone’s focus will be on Russell Westbrook after having an overwhelming season with the Lakers. There were many rumors and speculation that the team was going to trade Westbrook to another team like the Indiana Pacers. Instead, Westbrook exercised his $47 million player option to stay one more year to see if Darvin Ham’s coaching style can help fix what made last year a mess.
Darvin Ham has been very vocal about how he feels about Russell Westbrook and has optimism about coaching him and how he can improve Westbrook’s playing style. Ham has also made it very clear that he expects Westbrook to be in the starting lineup but when the time comes and needed if necessary then he will eventually come off the bench, via Sam Amick & Jovan Buha.
LeBron James passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's scoring record
Will LeBron James pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the all-time scoring list this season? Photo via Lakers official website
LeBron James is about to do the impossible in the 2022-23 season, he is projected to pass Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's regular season scoring record. James needs 1,326 points to break the scoring record that has not been touched since 1984.
LeBron James was asked about potentially passing the scoring record during media day and said “To sit here and to know that I’m on the verge of breaking probably the most sought-after record in the NBA, something that people say will probably never be done, I think it’s just super like humbling, for myself.”
Unfortunately, the relationship between LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar isn’t quite how fans expected it to be. When a reporter asked James if he has a relationship with Abdul-Jabbar and he gave a cold “No thoughts. And no relationship.”
No matter what will happen between LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the moment when James passes Abdul-Jabbar will be a historic moment in NBA history. It will be remembered and told by many generations of fans.
Overall, this upcoming season will determine if any of the Laker's choices were worth it. The first was keeping Russell Westbrook to see if he still has it in him or not. Secondly, LeBron James and Anthony Davis will have to stay healthy in order for this team to succeed. Lastly, head coach Darvin Ham told fans what to expect from this upcoming on the ALL THE SMOKE podcast saying “Competing at a high level. We’re going to be together [..] We’re going to be tough. We’re going to be defensive-minded [...] We don’t want anybody that’s second-guessing being a Laker or ‘Am I in the right place?’ or this, that and the third”.