Austin Rivers doesn’t understand how the Lakers don’t compete at a championship level.

LeBron James (left) and Anthony Davis (right).

LeBron James (left) and Anthony Davis (right).LAPRESSE
The Los Angeles Lakers have all eyes on them ahead of the 2024-25 season. A big reason for that is LeBron James and his son,

 

Bronny, playing together in the NBA. A bigger reason is because Lakers fans need to see results following several disappointing seasons in a row.

 

The team has made a couple of offseason moves, but no free agent splashes. In fact, their most important move may be the hiring of JJ Redick as their new head coach. While Redick and the front office figure out what to do next, James and teammate Anthony Davis are gearing up to represent Team USA in the Paris Olympics.

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LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Jayson Tatum perform iconic pregame rituals for Team USA

 

Austin Rivers asks why Lakers don’t compete at championship level

USA has played a few exhibition games in the leadup to the Olympics. James in particular has shined, and Davis has played a key role. That has former Los Angeles Clippers point guard Austin Rivers wondering why the Lakers can’t build a winning team around the two stars.

Who have been the two best players, the most impactful, on USA Basketball? So far, the two best players are two Lakers players: LeBron James and Anthony Davis. I’m thinking, ‘why are the Lakers so far away, or why does it feel that way?’… If they’re on the same team in the NBA, it’s just bewildering why we haven’t seen them compete at a championship level since the bubble.

 

Rivers admits that Redick could be the “piece” that’s missing on the Lakers. He also recalled Redick saying that the Lakers aren’t far away from truly competing, and Rivers agrees; mainly because they have James and Davis.

A lot of Lakers fans agreed with Rivers’ sentiments, with many of them pointing the finger directly at GM Rob Pelinka. Fans aren’t thrilled with the roster decisions Pelinka has made, particularly since that 2020 NBA Championship. This upcoming season is make-or-break in a lot of aspects.