– LeBron James
Without a doubt, the biggest offseason acquisition this season was the Lakers getting LeBron James. After a lengthy drought of missing the playoffs, James gave the Lakers instant credibility as one of the best players in the league.
So far, James has put up MVP type numbers with 27.6 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game. James is playing under 36 minutes for the first time in his career, as the Lakers are trying to lessen his workload a little bit.
However, in a big showdown with the Warriors, James will surely be playing a lot as this will have a playoff game type feel. The Lakers and LeBron would love to be able to prove to the Warriors on a national stage that they can compete with the defending champions.
One of the main reasons why LeBron and Cavaliers were unable to hang with the Warriors last year was because of a lack of a supporting cast for James. However, the young core of the Lakers is performing well this season and this will be a big test for them. In a big matchup, James will surely be ready to go. However, this game will be more of a test for his new supporting cast.