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The 10 greatest Los Angeles Lakers teams of all-time

By Cameron Salce

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 11: The Los Angeles Lakers celebrate with the trophy after winning the 2020 NBA Championship Final over the Miami Heat in Game Six of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 11: The Los Angeles Lakers celebrate with the trophy after winning the 2020 NBA Championship Final over the Miami Heat in Game Six of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) /

Best Los Angeles Lakers teams all-time: 7. 2019-20

Starters: LeBron James, Avery Bradley, Danny Green, Anthony Davis, Javale McGee

Bench: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Rajon Rondo, Dwight Howard, Kyle Kuzma, Alex Caruso, Markieff Morris, Dion Waiters, J.R. Smith, Talen Horton-Tucker, Quinn Cook, Jared Dudley, Troy Daniels, Kostas Antetokounmpo, Devontae Cacok, Zach Norvell

At the start of the 2019 regular season, hardly anyone was saying the Lakers were going to be the champions at the end of the season. ESPN ranked them behind teams like the Clippers, Bucks, and even the Nuggets in preseason rankings heading into the year despite the Lakers teaming up two top-five talents in the entire NBA.

The main knock on this team going into the season after DeMarcus Cousins’ injury was that they have great star power, but the rest of their roster lacked the firepower to get the Lakers anywhere in the playoffs.

Key role players like Avery Bradley and Javale McGee stepped up and helped the Lakers have one of the best regular seasons franchise history. Then in the postseason surprise veteran contributors like Dwight Howard and Rajon Rondo played major roles to get the Lakers over the top and win the championship.

Heading into 2019 all three of those players just mentioned were looked at as poor signings past their prime, but all those guys rewrote that script and played their way into contracts with new teams this season.

The Lakers also got surprising stand out defensive play from their guards Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Alex Caruso all season, and their energy helped carry them in the playoffs.

In only 71 games, this team was able to break the 50 win mark and that is an impressive feat for any team in a full 82 game season.

A mixture of obstacles from the Coronavirus pandemic to the legend Kobe Bryant abruptly passing away made this team’s achievement of a championship even that more special for a city desperate for something to be happy about.

That, along with having to win their championship in a bubble without the home-court advantage, something a number one seed usually enjoys, makes it easy to justify this team being on the list.

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