Lakers: 5 Best Moments From the 2015-2016 Season

Eric Yee

Apr 13, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Laker fans celebrate and shoot snapshots as time runs out in the Lakers win over the Utah Jazz in the final game of Kobe Bryant

Apr 13, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) waves to the crowd as he heads to the bench before the end of the Lakers win over the Utah Jazz at Staples Center. Bryant scored 60 points in the final game of his career. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

Despite undergoing their worst season in franchise history, the Lakers still had some great moments along the journey

In the eyes of a fair weather fan, the 2015-16 Los Angeles Lakers’ season was a complete disaster.

Apart from undergoing their worst season in franchise history, the Lakers failed to send off Kobe Bryant with one last chance to make magic happen in the playoffs, D’Angelo Russell took baby steps forward followed by huge leaps backwards, and the Lakers still aren’t even guaranteed to keep their draft pick.

However, the thing that makes true, die hard Lakers fans so great is their, often delusional, sense of optimism in regards their team.

In the eyes of a fan who bleeds Purple and Gold, the season was as productive as ever: Kobe Bryant got sent off perfectly, the young guns got a chance to develop and a 55.8 percent chance of keeping the pick is basically a shoo in.

Armed with both exciting young players in Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson, D’Angelo Russell and Larry Nance Jr. and seasoned veterans, mainly named Kobe Bryant, the boys in Purple and Gold showed signs of a possible rebirth of Showtime on various occasions.

So before we send off the Black Mamba and some bandwagon fans for good, let’s take a look back at the top five best moments from the 2015-16 campaign.

Next: Kobe's Last Game at TD Garden

5. Goodbye Boston

Dec 30, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) acknowledged the crowd after a game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

The hype entering this game was tremendous.

Starting with the “Dear Kobe: A Letter From a Celtics’ Fan,” nearly a month prior, the contest was exactly as the author described. Despite the tremendous hate for Kobe Bryant and everything Purple and Gold, Boston fans paid respect where respect was due at the end of the day.

So was the case on December 30 when the Black Mamba entered TD Garden for his last ever show down with the boys in green. Led by Jordan Clarkson and Lou Williams who put up 24 and 19 points respectively, Kobe Bryant added a quiet double-double, posting 15 points and 11 rebounds on a horrid 5-of-18 shooting.

That said, at the end of the day, the Lakers pulled out the victory 112-104, and that’s the only thing that matters.

On par with the Kobe Bryant we have known for the past 20 years, KB24 delivered when it mattered most, hitting clutch shots down the stretch including a long three with just under two minutes remaining in the contest that caused LA’s bench and the Boston fans alike to erupt.

The strangest thing from the entire night was the “Kobe” chants that sporadically came up throughout the night. This is to say, that if Paul Pierce ever had a reunion tour with the Celtics, it’s doubtful that Lakers fans would have the same reaction.

But that just speaks to the transcendence that is Kobe Bryant.

Next: Larry Nance Jr.Dunks All Over Everybody

4. Larry Nance Jr. Posterizes Everybody

January 5, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Larry Nance Jr. (7) dunks to score a basket against Golden State Warriors during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

This is practically a top five within a top five on account of the fact that Larry Nance Jr. lived up to his bloodline and had a series of poster dunks this season.

The first poster came before the season even started when the rookie dunked all over Festus Ezeli of the Golden State Warriors in one of their last preseason games.

If you pause the dunk at the peak of his jump, he’s in the form of a perfect “Jumpman Jordan” logo making this dunk that much more impressive. Top it off with his Jordan shrug, the entire sequence was a thing of beauty.

His next magic act came on December 22, against the Denver Nuggets where he took off just outside the dotted line, casually throwing it down over Joffrey Lauvergne in the process.

However, his best dunk arguably came three months later against the Atlanta Hawks when he drove past Paul Millsap then threw home a hammer dunk over formidable defender, Al Horford.

Stealing a line from the Sacramento Kings’ announcers, “If you don’t like that, you don’t like NBA basketball.”

Many were critical of the Lakers’ decision to select Nance late in the first round, especially when the likes of RJ Hunter and Kevon Looney remained on the Big Board. Hindsight being 20/20 the decision was obviously the right one as Nance looks like the steal of the 2015 draft.

Next: Lakers Defeat the Golden State Warriors

3. Lakers Crush the Defending Champion Warriors

Mar 6, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) shoots over Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) during the NBA game at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Just two days before their impressive win against the Orlando Magic, the Los Angeles Lakers took down the defending champion Golden State Warriors in impressive fashion.

Not only did the Purple and Gold defeat the Dubs by 17 points, they also held both Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson under 20 points, 18 and 15 points respectively, combining for a horrible 13-of-40 on the night including 1-of-18 downtown. Further, the entire Warriors team ended up shooting a horrid 13.3 percent from three the entire game.

If that was not enough, motivated by some candid advice from Kobe Bryant, D’Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson combined for 46 points, many of their buckets coming at clutch times to stop the Warriors’ surges.

According to ABC, the Lakers’ win was the biggest differential in winning percentages in which the worse team eventually went on to win the contest. Ironically, this impressive victory came directly after one of the Lakers’ worst losses on the entire season, when they got blown out by the Atlanta Hawks by 29 points at home.

However, it was not until two nights later, when the Lakers’ young core had their best game of the season, bringing us to the second best moment of the 2015-16 season.

Next: LA's Young Trio Joins Exclusive Company

2. The Young Boys Show Out

With Kobe Bryant’s retirement finally signed, sealed and delivered, the stage is set perfectly for the trio of young Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson and D’Angelo Russell to take the league by storm.

Prior to the season, a shroud of uncertainty surrounded the bunch: Would Julius Randle be able to bounce back from his season ending injury? Could Clarkson and Russell co-exist in the back court? Who would Kobe pass the torch to upon his pending retirement?

More from Lake Show Life

Though the last question has yet to be answered, the idea of rule by committee seems like a plausible plan for the Lakers at this point in time.

That said, the former two questions were answered thoroughly on March 8 when the Lakers played the Orlando Magic and their young guns put on a show. Aided by the absences of both Kobe Bryant and Lou Williams, the trio gave fans a glimpse at what the future could hold for the Purple and Gold.

Combing for 74 points, 18 rebounds and seven assists on an efficient 29-of-52 shooting, they also broke some interesting records along the way.

"Last time an NBA team had 23+ points from 3 different players 23 years or younger... OKC Westbrook, Durant and Harden"
— Mutiple Sources (@ericdyee) March 9, 2016

Any time you’re able to get into the same conversation as Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant and James Harden, you’re obviously doing something right. This was a night to remember and hopefully one that the Lakers can build on going forward.

Next: Kobe Bryant's Farewell Performance

1. “Mamba Out”

Apr 13, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) jogs back on offense against the Utah Jazz during the third quarter at Staples Center. Bryant was playing in the final game of his NBA career. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

This should come as no surprise, but the top moment by far in this Lakers’ season was Kobe Bryant’s last game against the Utah Jazz on April 13.

As first and foremost a basketball purist, then a Lakers die hard, then a Kobe Bryant fanatic, at times the game was difficult to watch.

Kobe struggled early, missing what seemed like his first 10 shots, and even throughout the game as he forced up a plethora of threes, airballing a few here and there, but all was forgotten with the way he ended the final two minutes of the game.

Yes, it could be argued that Julius Randle set him plenty of illegal screens, or that the Jazz defenders, just like the rest of us, were in awe that they were actually witnessing Kobe Bryant’s last game, but the fact remains that Kobe hit tough shots down the stretch just like it was 2008.