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Los Angeles Lakers 2003-04 team added to NBA 2K18

By Kenneth Teape

Lakers Karl Malone, Gary Payton, Shaquille O'Neal with a non–uniformed Kobe Bryant watching the game against the Dallas Mavericks at the Staples Center Tuesday, October 28, 2003. (Photo by Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Lakers Karl Malone, Gary Payton, Shaquille O'Neal with a non–uniformed Kobe Bryant watching the game against the Dallas Mavericks at the Staples Center Tuesday, October 28, 2003. (Photo by Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Lakers team from the 2003-04 season will be featured in NBA 2K18 as one of the many historical teams.

The Los Angeles Lakers have had some amazing players take the court for them. A number of members of the Naismith Hall of Fame have worn the purple and gold; that is why they have won 16 NBA Championships. However, arguably the most talented team in their franchise history was not one of those 16 champions.

During the 2003 offseason, the Lakers changed the NBA landscape. They already had the dynamic duo of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal in place but thought a shakeup was in order. After winning the NBA Finals for three consecutive seasons, the Lakers lost in the 2003 playoffs in the second round to the San Antonio Spurs.

That was an unacceptable outcome for Los Angeles. So, in the offseason, they added two more future Hall of Famers to the roster in free agency.

During the summer, the Lakers would sign Karl Malone and Gary Payton. Both players had fallen short in their pursuit of championships with the Utah Jazz and Seattle SuperSonics, getting beaten by Michael Jordan. With championship aspirations, they joined the Lakers, sacrificing plenty to do so.

Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers /

Los Angeles Lakers

Malone made $19,250,000 in his final season with the Jazz. To join the Lakers, he signed for the veteran’s minimum of $1.5 million. Payton made over $12.6 million with the SuperSonics prior to signing for under $5 million with the Lakers.

In addition to those two, the Lakers also acquired Byron Russell, who felt the pain of losing to Jordan alongside Malone with the Jazz. Fellow veteran Horace Grant was back with the Lakers for a second time, along with mainstays such as Derek Fisher, Devean George, and Rick Fox.

This roster was absolutely loaded. Egos and different styles had to mesh together, but there is no denying the talent that this roster had. With Phil Jackson leading the way, the Lakers had a great season.

Los Angeles ended up winning 56 games, taking home the Pacific Division title. They would reach the NBA Finals by defeating the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves in six games or fewer. In the NBA Finals, the Lakers did not find that same success.

Malone went down with an injury and it derailed the team. Without Malone in the lineup, the Lakers would succumb to the Detroit Pistons in five games. It was a huge upset. While the Pistons played the epitome of team basketball and had solid players, it lacked the star power the Lakers possessed.

That Lakers team was championship or bust. However, fans can now take some frustrations out in NBA 2K18. NBA 2K will be adding franchise All-Time teams to the game this year in addition to the historical teams they have.

This year, there will be plenty of new historical teams added. 16 of the newest ones were announced, and the 2003-04 Lakers were one of those teams.

Next: Predicting Lakers All-Time Starting Lineup In NBA 2K18

Fans that still take that loss hard can take some frustrations out on the Pistons using them in NBA 2K18. Despite so many older players being relied upon, the Lakers still made an impressive run to the NBA Finals. While it was disappointing to see them come up short, it was quite a sight to see that kind of talent gathered on one roster.

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