Los Angeles Lakers: Five bold predictions for next season
Prediction number three: LeBron James will lead the league in assists
Last season LeBron James finished fourth in the NBA in assists at 8.3 per game. He managed that feat while sharing the floor with two pass first point guards in Lonzo Ball and Rajon Rondo soaking up 13.5 assists per game. Heading into next season, Lonzo Ball’s gone and the Lakers have two point guards in Alex Caruso and Quinn Cook who are going to do their best to steal the majority of Rondo’s minutes.
Furthermore, LeBron averaged over eight assists per game last season while he passed the ball to shooting impaired players like Josh Hart, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Brandon Ingram (the first part of the season), Kyle Kuzma, Rajon Rondo, and Lonzo Ball.
Imagine what will happen next season when LeBron James starts at point guard for the Purple and Gold and he’s passing the ball to some of the best 3-point shooters in the league.
Have a look at the shooters who will join LeBron James on the floor next season:
- Danny Green: career 40 3P%
- Avery Bradley: career 36 3P%
- Jared Dudley: career 39 3P%
- Quinn Cook: career 42 3P%
- Troy Daniels: career 40 3P%
- Alex Caruso: career 40 3P%
Even Anthony Davis hit 38% of his catch and shoot three-point attempts last season.
Next year LeBron James is going to be run the Lakers offense and pick up easy assists in three different ways:
- He’ll rack up assists by passing to Anthony Davis and JaVale McGee out of pick and roll situations,
- He’ll get assists by hitting all of the excellent 3-point shooters that Rob Pelinka added to the roster
- He’ll get assists by hitting Kyle Kuzma off of cuts to the rim
LBJ will definitely lead the association in assists next season and he might even average over 12 dishes per game.