Lakers: LA to Host All-Star Game in 2018, But Will They Have An All-Star By Then?
By Eric Yee
News that the Los Angeles Lakers will host the 2018 All-Star Game has surfaced, but will the Purple and Gold have an All-Star by then?
At this year’s All-Star festivities in Toronto, it was revealed that the 2017 All-Star Game would take place in Charlotte, hosted by Michael Jordan‘s Hornets. Now, only one month removed, news that the Lakers will be hosting All-Star weekend in Los Angeles come 2018 has already hit the airwaves.
However, with Kobe Bryant‘s last season almost at its end, the question now remains, will the Purple and Gold even have an All-Star to represent them in two years time?
Staples Center will host the 2018 NBA All-Star Game, the league will officially announce Tuesday before the Lakers host Memphis.
— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) March 21, 2016
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The Lakers are currently loaded up with young talent from the self proclaimed “Swag Bros,” D’Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson, to the Bash Bros, Julius Randle and Larry Nance Jr., but none of them seem to be a direct lock for All-Stardom in the near future.
Currently, Clarkson and Nance Jr. seem to be content with being role players and who knows what the future holds for Randle, who is still raw as ever. With that being said, of the four young core players, D’Angelo Russell seems most likely to fill that role.
Despite playing sparingly to start the season, and even seeing his minutes in late game situations cut as of late, Russell is still averaging an impressive 17.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.5 steals per 36 minutes.
Further, if the ping pong balls fall their way come May, the Lakers could be looking at a top three prospect the likes of Brandon Ingram or Ben Simmons who also have All-Star potential.
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Though it would have been nice to have had the Black Mamba’s last All-Star Game at home, hopefully the young Lakers will step up and fill the massive void that he’s left behind in the coming years.