There are a lot of talented teams in the NBA, but it is the Los Angeles Lakers who have the best frontcourt in the league.
Los Angeles Lakers superstar Anthony Davis prefers to play with a center. He doesn’t care for all the banging that comes with the playing major minutes at the center spot, so he prefers to play it in limited stretches.
That’s why the Lakers signed DeMarcus Cousins this summer but the idea of a modern-day twin towers came crashing down when Cousins tore his Achilles. The Lakers brought in Dwight Howard to split time with JaVale McGee and now we’re seeing one of the best frontcourts in recent years.
Much of the NBA has gone small, opting to follow the Golden State Warrior blueprint, but during the preseason, the Lakers are showing teams will have problems against their frontcourt. The paring of Howard and McGee has produced an average of 18 points and 16 rebounds with both men providing the rim protection they’re known for.
Consider that the Lakers have a front line of AD, McGee, and Howard. Include LeBron James and Kyle Kuzma and it may very well be the best frontcourt in the NBA. LeBron and Kuzma are 6’8 and 6’9 while Davis, McGee, and Howard are all above 6’10. Outside of Philadelphia with Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid, and Al Horford, the rest of the league won’t be able to match their size.
A strong frontcourt will make life much easier on the Laker guards, allowing them to be aggressive and take chances. Opposing teams will likely avoid driving in the paint for fear that Dwight or JaVale is waiting with Anthony Davis coming from the weak side.
LeBron has been running the point on offense and he can see over almost any guard in the NBA. If the Lakers decide to go really big with LeBron at point guard, Danny Green at the 2, Kuzma at the 3, Davis at the 4, and JaVale or Dwight at the 5, that might be the biggest lineup in the NBA.
This team is big, physical and talented and they might just show the NBA the traditional center isn’t extinct.