Los Angeles Lakers: Ranking every LeBron James-centered big 3

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 07: Anthony Davis #3 and LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers shake hands prior to a game against the San Antonio Spurs at Staples Center on January 07, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 07: Anthony Davis #3 and LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers shake hands prior to a game against the San Antonio Spurs at Staples Center on January 07, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
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(Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers

3. The Los Angeles Lakers big three

To be fair, we have not even seen this trio play together yet and there is a chance that they completely blow expectations out of the water. That is not out of the realm of possibility and there is a reality where Anthony Davis takes yet another step up and Russell Westbrook is a better fit than we think.

At the end of the day, though, because of the style fits of these three players and the status of LeBron compared to younger LeBron, we have to rank this last out of the big threes.

Anthony Davis might be the most talented player that LeBron has played with. Prime Wade was better than Davis but LeBron got 90% of prime Wade. In Davis, LeBron gets one of the most versatile scorers in the league who also happens to be a top-five defensive player.

His biggest problem is staying healthy, and even though he is the best teammate LeBron has ever had, this is not the best version of LeBron.

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While still elite, the Cleveland and Miami versions of LeBron were the bonafide best players in the league. The gap is much smaller and there are multiple players in the league who can now legitimately say they are better than LeBron, although it certainly is up for debate.

Westbrook ironically might be more talented than the other “third members” of the big three as well but the fit and his ball-dominant nature alongside LeBron knocks it down.

The absolute best version of all these players blows the other teams out of the water. But based on the current state of affairs and how they project to fit, they have to rank third.