In LeBron James’ first 16 NBA seasons, he’s played the role of point guard on occasion, but is expected to be a more permanent presence there during the 2019-20 NBA campaign.
That’s because a new report indicates that the Los Angeles Lakers will be starting James at the point to shore up an area that was in need of additional talent.
Chris Haynes of Yahoo! Sports explained why James will likely be paired with one of the Lakers’ newest additions in the backcourt, former Toronto Raptors shooting guard Danny Green:
“James, 34, will be entering his 17th NBA season and is prepared to become the floor general in an effort to maximize a roster that’s suddenly built to contend for a championship with the addition of All-Star forward Anthony Davis and a few complementary pieces.”
The Lakers’ blockbuster deal for Davis last month saw them trade away three players, including point guard Lonzo Ball. Just two years ago, Ball was the second overall selection in the NBA draft and was seen as a key building block for the rebuilding Lakers, a status that has obviously since changed.
In his new role as the Lakers starting point guard, James currently has three players on the team’s roster that could serve as a backup: Rajon Rondo, Alex Caruso and Quinn Cook.
James’ all-around game has always been one of the reasons why he’s been considered one of the greats of the game. Even though he was limited to just 55 games during his first season with the Lakers because of injury, he still finished with averages of 27.4 points, 8.5 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game.
