Born and raised in California, Jamaal Wilkes has always been around the basketball scene for a long time. Attending UCLA in the early 70s, Wilkes finished with two NCAA Championships. His professional career only included Californian teams: Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, and Los Angeles Clippers. While he won championships with the Warriors and the “Showtime” Lakers, Wilkes is a respected member of the Lakers family.
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Losing is something the Lakers franchise isn’t accustomed to. The leader Kobe Bryant has been dealt with some grueling injuries but his competitive nature hasn’t allowed him to walk away from the game.
Being a winner most of his life, Wilkes has stated his opinions to Adi Joseph of The Sporting News about Kobe Bryant and his future as a the leader of the Lakers:
“He has very little help, and I’m sure he feels like it’s all on him because it has been for the last 18, 19 years. And I’m sure he doesn’t know what to expect from himself or what his body can give him now. But it’s clear that he’s near the end. He’s in the last year of his contract. But physically, he just can’t carry the group more.
While the Lakers are staying loyal to their superstar of nearly 20 years, they look forward to having a bright future with Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle. If the basketball Gods are finished being cruel with the Lakers, they should have a Top 5 pick in the Draft Lottery. May 19th will be the day the fans can finally breathe a sigh of relief or lash out in anger.