LeBron James and Anthony Davis are running it back, and Bronny James is poised to play alongside his father this season.
Essentially, these are the same Los Angeles Lakers that were bounced out of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs by the Denver Nuggets.
The only significant new addition for the Lakers heading into the 2024-25 season is rookie head coach JJ Redick, who replaced the fired Darvin Ham. Redick has never coached in the NBA even in an assistant role, so his hiring for this historic franchise is no small thing.
But he has two of the best players in the NBA in LeBron James and Anthony Davis. And like they have since joining forces in 2019, James and Davis know they must continue to perform at a high level for the Lakers to succeed.
The Lakers didn’t sign any free agents over the summer, nor did they make any trades. They drafted the player who is likely the most talked-about second-round pick in NBA history in USC guard Bronny James, LeBron’s elder son. They used their first-round pick on Tennessee guard Dalton Knecht. But no one is counting on these two rookies to play key roles.
So, on paper, the central characters remain the same for the Lakers. But according to Davis, their mentality is different, and if they can keep their top contributors healthy, that tells him these Lakers are a different squad.
“Last year is last year,” Davis says. “We can’t say, ‘Oh, this is the same team.’ It could be a different result. For us, it’s about coming in with that mindset of getting to work and seeing how it plays out.”
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James and forward Anthony Davis celebrate after winning the in-season tournament championship against the Indiana Pacers in Las Vegas on Dec. 9, 2023.
Frontcourt
LeBron James remained one of the NBA’s top players last season, playing in 71 games, the most since he joined the Lakers in 2018. He ranked 13th in the NBA in scoring (25.7 ppg) last season and was fifth in assists (8.3), and he also hauled in 7.3 rebounds per contest. He was even better in the playoffs, averaging 27.8 points, 8.8 assists and 6.8 rebounds while shooting 56.6 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from 3-point range, and he played well yet again for Team USA in the Paris Olympics.
James has been at his best with the ball in his hands throughout his entire career. He’s a willing passer and sees the floor extremely well. But Redick says he’d like to see James be less ball-dominant and move more without the rock in his hands.
It’ll be interesting to see how it plays out, if only because James has been great at doing things his way for 21 professional seasons. Not only is James the NBA’s all-time leading scorer with 40,474 points, but his 11,009 assists rank fourth all time.
Either way, James has the basketball IQ to adjust his game, and he’ll have the basketball more than enough. The Lakers will be counting on him.
Rui Hachimura didn’t quite have the jump last season that was expected after he was so good during the 2023 playoffs. He dealt with nose and calf injuries last season and never seemed to find his way. But he is a skilled athlete, and the Lakers need him to play at an optimum level. He can shoot the 3-pointer or post up, and he cuts well without the basketball. But he has to improve his defense and probably will with better concentration. He needs to be a more effective rebounder, too.
Davis remains one of the best two-way talents in the NBA, and that’s what the Lakers will need him to be. He may have a new role this season, as Redick has told Davis that he wants him to be at the center of the offense. Davis is skilled enough to do that because he can score from all over the court, has great vision to make the right pass and can handle the basketball.
Staying healthy and being available is the most important thing for Davis. He played in 76 games last season, the most of his 12-year career, and he must be on the court for the Lakers again.
“(Redick) talked about me being the hub of the offense,” Davis says. “That will be different. We won’t know everything until camp when we’re able to get on the floor. We want LeBron to shoot more 3s. (Redick) wants to play fast and defend. From what he was telling me, I’m in total agreement with what he has planned for us. The goal at the end of the day is still to win a championship. You can’t skip steps.”
Jaxson Hayes and Christian Wood will be the backup centers, playing mostly against favorable matchups. Forward Jarred Vanderbilt is an elite defender and a hustle player. But he has to be healthy for the Lakers to utilize his talents, as he missed 53 games last season with a left heel injury.
Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick speaks to reporters during an introductory news conference in El Segundo, California, on June 24.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Backcourt
When D’Angelo Russell opted into his contract for $18.7 million, the thought was that the Lakers would then trade him. But the polarizing point guard remains on the team. He’s an effective 3-point shooter who can pass the ball. But his defense is basically nonexistent, he doesn’t rebound well and he doesn’t hustle enough. Russell has admitted he’s not a great athlete, but that shouldn’t stop him from playing hard all the time.
Austin Reaves has worked so hard over his three years that he’s become the Lakers’ third-best all-around player. And he’s durable, being the only Laker to have played in all 82 regular-season games last season. If Reaves takes another step forward, it’ll be beneficial to the Lakers’ fortunes. He already shoots the 3-pointer well, and he’s a good passer. He works hard on defense and isn’t afraid to take charges.
The Lakers gave Max Christie a four-year, $32-million extension as a show of confidence in his abilities. He should be a solid rotation player because he can shoot the ball and has a high basketball IQ.
Backup point guard Gabe Vincent came from the Heat and knows how to play the game the right way, but he missed 71 games last season with a knee injury. The Lakers need his all-around skills off the bench.
Rookies Bronny James and Dalton Knecht will play mostly for the South Bay Lakers, the Lakers’ G League team.
FINAL ANALYSIS
It will be challenging, but if the Lakers stay healthy, they could be good enough to sneak into the playoffs in the super-competitive Western Conference because of the dynamic duo of LeBron James and Davis. But expecting James to shoulder such a heavy load at 40 is a tall ask.
SCOUTING THE LAKERS
Anonymous takes from league insiders:
“I’m not sure what the plan is here other than keeping LeBron James happy. … I think the worst thing to happen to this franchise is they figured out, and maybe accepted, that they can be average and still make money. … LeBron is still very good, but he’s not putting a team on his back anymore. And he’s not suddenly going to get better. … If Anthony Davis stays on the court, he’s still magnificent, one of the two or three best bigs in the league. But if LeBron isn’t playing, they look a lot like Davis’ old Pelicans teams. … Despite the media’s fascination, they aren’t scaring anyone.”
From left, Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka, first-round draft pick Dalton Knecht (4), second-round draft pick Bronny James (9) and coach JJ Redick pose at a press conference in El Segundo, California, on July 2.
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
OFFSEASON MOVES
Draft Picks
1. Dalton Knecht (SG, 6-6, 213, Tennessee)
2. Bronny James (SG, 6-2, 210, USC)
At 23, Knecht probably is more NBA-ready than James. If Knecht can knock down shots, he’ll be given a chance to get some playing time. But he’ll most likely spend most of the season with the G-League affiliate South Bay Lakers. He’s not a great athlete, but he’s smart and has a solid offensive game. James, 19, is in the developmental stage of his career. He’ll probably play in a few games with the Lakers and his dad, LeBron, but Bronny can improve more quickly with the South Bay Lakers. He’s a good athlete, but he needs to work on his ball-handling skills and outside shot.
BEYOND THE ARC
Keep firing Even in Year 21 of his Illustrious career, LeBron James found a way to elevate his game. He shot a career-best 41 percent from 3-point range last season. Knowing that, Lakers head coach JJ Redick has a plan in place for James this season. “He and I joked about this,” Redick says. “He shot over 40 percent from 3 this year. I want him shooting 3s.”
Making history The basketball world will be speculating on when James and son Bronny James will play in their first regular-season game together. They will make NBA history as the first father-son duo to share an NBA court.
Nothing but net The Lakers were an excellent shooting team last season, and with an offensive-minded coach like Redick, they should be just as good this season. They were tied for second in the NBA in field-goal percentage, making 49.9 percent of their shots.
Bronny feels the heat Bronny James knows he carries a burden as LeBron’s son. “For sure, it’s an amplified amount of pressure,” Bronny says. “I’ve already seen it on social media and stuff, and the Internet and stuff and talking about that I might not deserve an opportunity. But I’ve been dealing with stuff like this my whole life. So it’s nothing different. But it’s more amplified, for sure. But I’ll get through it.”
