The Los Angeles Lakers have had some great plays this season. First, LeBron James’ alley oop. Then, he jumped a pass from James Harden and took it all the way down the court for a thunderous tomahawk jam. During the All-Star break, LeBron had already scored at least 25 points in 18 games. Now, he’s at 23 in a row. And last night, he provided fireworks on both ends of the court with a dunk over Tre Mann.
After the Lakers’ second half run, they were up by as many as 19 points. That lead increased to 22 points with just over a minute to play. But the Lakers’ momentum carried into the third quarter and they pulled away for a 122-109 victory. James paced the Lakers with 50 points, but many other players made big contributions as well.
The team’s first season under new management brought many changes. The Lakers parted ways with former coach Frank Vogel after a disastrous season in 2021-22, hiring Darvin Ham to take over the team. The former head coach’s first opportunity as an NBA head coach was also the catalyst for the docuseries “Legacy,” directed by Antoine Fuqua and Jeanie Buss. The Lakers also made some big changes to their roster, bringing in Dennis Schroder, Loonie Walker IV, Troy Brown Jr., and Patrick Beverley.
The Lakers began in 1947 as the Minneapolis Lakers, but have been called Los Angeles Lakers since the 1960s. The ‘Lakers’ name is a tribute to their Minnesota roots. They have won 17 NBA championships in their history and have made multiple appearances in the finals of multiple championships.
Last season, the Lakers were among the worst in the league. But the preseason has shown some promise. They lost their season opener against the Sacramento Kings on Monday, but they did show signs of improving. The Lakers have added a few key players to their roster and have a better chance of reaching the playoffs.
