Los Angeles Lakers can learn a lesson from Usain Bolt
By Ed Schrenzel
The recent misfortune suffered by Jamaican superstar Usain Bolt at the World Track and Field Championships should provide a cautionary tale to Los Angeles Lakers management and fans.
Usain Bolt dominated his sport more than anyone else ever has, winning an unprecedented three consecutive Olympic titles in both the 100 and 200 meter dashes and 4 x 100 relays, and also winning every race he started at four straight World Championships. He holds the world record in both events, and had never suffered a serious injury.
But this past week, while closing in on his 31st birthday in what was to be his final events before retiring, Bolt finished only 3rd in the 100 to two Americans. Then, in the relay he suffered a severe hamstring cramp before even reaching top speed. Instead of seeing his famed victory bolt celebration, fans watched in horror as he collapsed helplessly on the track.
Wait a minute, you say. What does the best sprinter in history have to do with the Los Angeles Lakers? Well, consider this. Lakers management has freed up cap space to pursue the signing of one or two star free agents in summer 2018. Speculation has run rampant among media and fans that a primary target will be LeBron James.
James has led his teams to seven consecutive Finals appearances, and is still at least one of best players in the league. He is blessed with an incredible combination of strength, power, speed and agility, and stays in fantastic shape.
But he will turn 34 in December of the 2018-19 season, which will be his 16th NBA year. He has already played in over 1,000 NBA games, plus more than 200 playoff games, and has never been seriously injured.
It is possible that perhaps James might suffer a fate similar to that endured by the great Usain Bolt. Certainly, in a league where almost no player escapes unscathed, it is feasible he may be struck by injury, just as Kobe Bryant was in his final seasons. And Father Time, of course, eventually catches up to everyone.
There are other arguments whether or not the Lakers should try to sign James. His enviable Finals track record, unmatched in modern times, is the foremost reason to have him on your team. Of course all his Finals appearances have come from the far less competitive East Conference. And his teams’ win-lost record over those last 7 Finals is just 3-4, and could easily have been 1-6 (Miami nearly lost to San Antonio in 2013 and Cleveland to Golden State in 2016).
Los Angeles Lakers
But more importantly is that, when constructing a roster, assembling the biggest names is less significant than finding compatibility among the players. Over the last two years, the Lakers drafted small forward Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball, who they hope will be a star point guard for them for the next decade or longer. Wherever James has played, he has always been listed as a small forward but actually served as the de facto point guard (much as Bryant did for the Lakers), and is at his best when he is dominating the ball (again, like Bryant). Is that the ideal type of player to be in the lineup with Ball and Ingram?
Actually, when you list the ideal attributes in a backcourt mate for Ball, new Laker Kentavious Caldwell-Pope checks just about every box. It is curious that the assumption seems to be that he’s a one-season rental when he might best complement Ball for many years to come. But that’s only what it looks like on paper. We’ll all find out more during the upcoming season.
There is, of course, no guarantee that James will be interested in joining the Lakers. He has naturally shown that he is most interested in pursuing titles, and toward that end he wants a team with a stacked roster, preferably with two other All-Stars. He did that in Miami when he convinced Chris Bosh to sign with him to play alongside Dwyane Wade. And shortly after he later returned to the Cavs to join budding all-star Kyrie Irving, management traded #1 pick Andrew Wiggins to obtain another All-Star, Kevin Love.
This season, the Lakers may well have no All-Stars. The most likely candidate is probably veteran center Brook Lopez, who is in his final contract season, and who may not be retained. Would signing another free agent All-Star to join the Lakers’ young talent base be enough to entice James? And would that combination provide a quick fix to a title? Who knows?
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But the main point is that no athletic career lasts forever. Even the greatest, like Usain Bolt, ultimately fall. At the very least the Lakers would be wise to consider that lesson and the risk involved with signing LeBron James, especially to a contract extending beyond one, maybe two years.