The NBA season is fast approaching and as the days wind down more and more people are looking at the Los Angeles Lakers to be title favorites, above all else, to at least come out of the Western Conference.
There is a lot that goes into coming out on top during an 82-game season and every player for the Lakers is going to have an important role this season. The question is who is going to be the most important player to the Lakers’ overall success this season?
The most important Los Angeles Lakers to the team’s success:
5. Dwight Howard
The presence of Dwight Howard as a rim defender was heavily missed last season. Yes, the addition of Marc Gasol did help with floor spacing but until Andre Drummond reached the team via a buyout a rim defender was heavily needed. Dwight Howard has been known for his defensive presence for the majority of his career.
Being a 3-time Defensive Player of the Year and even leading the league in blocks at one point in his career, Dwight Howard’s presence has always been felt in the paint. His last season with the Lakers, Howard averaged 1.1 blocks per game, 5 rebounds per game, and also managed to grab 2.5 offensive rebounds per game.
Those things were all extremely key for the Lakers which helped them win the championship. Dwight will have a very important job roaming and protecting the paint alongside Anthony Davis. As we all know the age-old saying, “defense wins championships”.