Los Angeles Lakers: Ranking the top five role players on the team
By Ethan Temkin
We are all aware of the star power of the Los Angeles Lakers, but who have been the five best role players for the team so far?
The Los Angeles Lakers have been dominant in nearly every statistical category, ranking 5th in offense, 2nd in defense, 2nd in net rating, 3rd in eFG%, and 2nd in margin of victory. They have the best record in the Western Conference at 24-5 and are showing no signs of slowing down.
Most of this has been done on the backs of their two superstars, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis, but kudos are also in order for the role players on the team as well, who have been just as instrumental to the team’s success.
The roster that GM Rob Pelinka constructed is comprised of players with skill sets that directly complement their star talent, ranging from shooting, defense, rebounding, and veteran savvy.
Injuries have made it so that the team has never quite been 100% healthy at any point so far in the season, but each player has adopted the ‘next man up’ mentality and made up for these injury losses.
Before we get into the list, let’s lay out some of the factors contributing to this ranking. Beyond the raw numbers, aspects such as fit, availability, versatility, and how well they perform their role on the team also play a part in their overall ranking.
There’s still a lot of the season left to play, and as a result, this list is sure to shift, but as of right now, here are the top five role players on the Los Angeles Lakers.