The NBA Playoffs will serve as a proving grounds for the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Los Angeles Lakers have a wide array of players at different points of their careers. Three of the players on the squad have absolutely nothing left to prove:
LeBron James has shown that he’s in the GOAT conversation by dominating the NBA throughout his career. To prove he isn’t human, LBJ fought father time this season and somehow won. LeBron’s still the best overall player in the association. He has the least to prove out of any player in the NBA.
Danny Green has won two championships with two different squads—The San Antonio Spurs in 2014 and the Toronto Raptors in 2019. He was a key contributor during both title runs, and he showed that he’s not afraid of the moment. Danny Green has nothing left to prove.
JaVale McGee went from the focal point of Shaq’s mirth to a two-time champion with the Golden State Warriors. McGee managed to morph from the king of bonehead plays to a solid role player in five years. That type of transition is rare in the NBA. Typically, talented young players like McGee, who “just don’t get it,” fall out of the league fast. McGee didn’t. Now he has nothing left to prove.
The Lakers also have three players with a lot to prove—we’ll focus on these men because they have a chance to change their career arcs during the playoffs.