Lake Show Life
Fansided

The 5 worst Lakers starters of the LeBron James era

By Jason Reed

TORONTO, ON - MARCH 18: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers hugs Avery Bradley #20 after their NBA game victory over the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on March 18, 2022 in Toronto, Canada. 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 Cole Burston/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MARCH 18: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers hugs Avery Bradley #20 after their NBA game victory over the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on March 18, 2022 in Toronto, Canada. 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 Cole Burston/Getty Images) /
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The future of the Los Angeles Lakers changed forever in the summer of 2018 when LeBron James decided to take his talents to the City of Angels and don the purple and gold. This eventually brought the organization its 17th championship as well as another superstar in Anthony Davis.

It hasn’t been all great in the LeBron era, though. It has truly been a rollercoaster over the last five seasons with the team having the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. In that stretch, the Lakers have paired some truly great players with LeBron but have also thrown out some disappointing players as well.

What if we built a starting five of the five worst starters that LA sheepishly threw out next to LeBron? To qualify for this list, a player had to have started at least 20 games with the Lakers since LeBron joined the team in 2018.

Worst Lakers starting point guard of the LeBron James era: Russell Westbrook

Could it have been anyone else? You could make a case for other players to snag this spot but there has not been a player in recent Lakers history that hurt the team’s title chances as much as Russell Westbrook did.

Trading for Westbrook in 2021 was the singular reason why the following season was a disaster and why the Lakers had to patch together a roster at the deadline in 2023. Two full years later the Lakers finally have a roster that is reminiscent of the roster before Westbrook came to town.

He was an awful fit next to LeBron and Anthony Davis and he made so much money that the Lakers couldn’t bring in quality depth. It was a horrible double whammy that resulted in the team going 31-50 with Westbrook as a starter before he was moved to the bench last season.