The Los Angeles Lakers have won 16 NBA Championships which puts them in second place behind the Celtics for most championships won. They have been among the most dominant franchises in sports history, but currently the team is fighting some of its worst times in the history of the organization.
Kobe Bryant has made waves among the fan community recently by saying that the Los Angeles Lakers can definitely make the playoffs this year. Crowning the Lakers a playoff time right now is a bit of an overstatement to say the least. They are not yet equipped to challenge the elite teams of the Western Conference. The Lakers could earn a playoff spot in the weaker Eastern Conference, but competing on the west coast during the 2015-2016 season is simply out of the question. However, the Los Angeles Lakers will not be out of competition for long. Here are my three simple reasons why the Lakers will regain dominance sooner than you might think.
The History
As I stated before, the Los Angeles Lakers are winners of 16 NBA Championships. Although the front office and coaching have been in flux lately, they have established a strong presence within the higher-ups of the organization throughout the decades. The Lakers enjoy a rich history of winning basketball and success on and off the court. It means something to put on the Lakers' purple and gold. To put on that uniform means that you are following in the footsteps of 21 Hall of Fame players who have also suited up for the team. The Lakers weren't very successful in luring free agents this year by selling history, but I guarantee they won't strike out too many times. They will improve on the court in the upcoming seasons, and once you combine that with the rich Laker history, players looking for a new team won't be able to deny them.
Youth
The Los Angeles Lakers have splendid young talent in the likes of D'Angelo Russell and Julius Randle. Both of these players listed have shown signs of greatness in their own right. The most intriguing prospect, D'Angelo Russell, was the second overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. The 6-5 point guard out of Ohio State dominated the Big Ten this past college basketball season, carrying Ohio State to the NCAA Tournament as just a freshman. Russell dazzled fans with his passes and ability to make difficult shots. He showed signs of stardom during the 2015 NBA Summer League last month, although he also showed that he had much work to do. However, if Russell can put together his abilities, he is well on his way to becoming the next great Lakers point guard.
Russell will be making many of his dazzling passes to fellow teammate, Julius Randle, who is a forgotten man within the Lakers organization. Randle was highly touted coming out of high school and led his Kentucky Wildcats to the NCAA championship as a freshman. The Lakers selected Randle with the 7th overall selection in the 2014 NBA draft, and his rookie season would be cut short by a broken foot. Julius is on track to making a full recovery and will most likely be in the starting lineup, without minute restrictions, when the upcoming NBA season tips off. Randle can dominate the game, simply with his energy and his grit. He is relentless at attacking the basket and plays bigger than his size suggests. The 6-9 big man also showed signs of improved range on this jump shot during the summer league. If Randle can make a full recovery, he will give the Lakers something they have not seen since Lamar Odam.
Kobe Bryant
Although this may very well be the last season Kobe Bryant plays in the NBA, that will not stop him from leaving his imprint on the future roster. Bryant will most likely spend this upcoming NBA season mentoring the youth of the team and setting the tone within the organization. It is an advantage to be playing with Bryant, who has won five NBA Championships and will go down as one the greatest players to ever live. Kobe is now in the twilight of his career and will serve as more of an ambassador for the team. Also, with the departure of Bryant, stars from other teams looking for a new home will most likely want to be the next centerpiece of the team. Bryant's retirement will open the door for a new era of Lakers basketball. So in a sense, since the Lakers are getting better while Bryant is still on the team and will also take a step once he retires, its a win-win situation.
Los Angeles Lakers basketball team is in a drought right now, but they won't be for long. Lakers basketball is on the rise, and it's coming sooner than you think.
