Many experts expected the newly revamped Los Angeles Lakers roster to come out of the gates slowly. Usually, it takes time for a new collection of talent to get to know each other and coalesce into a winning unit. The Purple and Gold went the other way. LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and company started the season 8-2— the first of many surprises this season.
Dozens of NBA analysts also predicted that Frank Vogel would struggle under the glaring lights of coaching a squad with LeBron James on the roster. These same analysts suspected that Jason Kidd would morph into a cheesy movie villain, trying to undermine his boss, Vogel, at every turn, eventually deciding to carry out a coup and take over the Lakers bench. Frank Vogel didn’t struggle, and Jason Kidd never made a takeover attempt—another pleasant surprise.
This season was full of delightful wonders, but at the center of the Los Angeles Lakers’ success were the players.
And at the core of the Lakers roster, three athletes stood out. It’s these men that we’ll discuss. Up next, we’ll delve into the three most surprising Lakers players during the abbreviated 2019-2020 season.