The Los Angeles Lakers have won 17 championships in total and 19 conference titles since 1949. However, it is worth noting that a team is viable enough to go through internal turmoil to reach for that one championship title each season. This is the case for the Lakers, as even though they have won 17 championships, the deteriorated relationships and heated arguments between players still hold the ground.
Many legends donned the yellow and purple in their careers to help win a championship for the franchise. Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant were the two legends who dominated the hardwood with their gifted athletic skills and won three consecutive rings for the Los Angeles Lakers.
However, the duo didn’t share an ‘all-is-merry’ relationship on-court or off-court. But then, how were they capable of pulling off a rare feat from 2000–2002? Rick Fox answered this question in a recent interview with the U.S. Sun. Serving as a supporting cast behind O’Neal and Bryant, Fox is unselfish and hugely competitive.
Part 2 begins in 2000. After Shaq and Kobe won their first championship with the Lakers, it seemed like the feud between their two stars might be over. But while Shaq relished in finally reaching the mountaintop, Kobe was dissatisfied. https://t.co/QxugPNBkuw
— Secret Base (@secretbase) October 31, 2023
The former player said, “I think the important thing that made us great is that we allowed for ungraceful communication to exist in our team environment as long as it was [so] we were pushing each other to the best version of ourselves individually and collectively.”
With the talent that the franchise held back then, it indeed seemed imperative for the Lakers to win multiple championships. However, the current team of aging players raises the question of whether the team can amass another championship after three ‘non-lucky’ years.
Can the Los Angeles Lakers win another championship in 2024?
The Lakers slightly missed the mark last season, when the Denver Nuggets swept the ring in the championship finals. This leaves the team without a ring since the 2020 season. The Lakers are now at No. 7 in the Eastern Conference with 11 wins and 9 losses this season.
When talking about whether the team stands a chance to win its 18th ring in the 2023–24 season, it’s obvious that the players still have a long way to go before reaching that milestone. The Lakers have one of the deepest teams in the league right now. However, the long-range shooting is not up to par.
On top of that, the aging ankles of LeBron James and the frequent injury scares of Davis add to the fact that it’s going to be very difficult for the team to stay intact until the playoffs hit. What are your views on the 2023–24 ring prospect? Let us know in the comment section.