Doncic and Lakers’ formula: bring stars to be champions
The Lakers already know the formula to be champions: bring stars from other teams and take them to the top. Will they achieve it with Doncic?
The extension of the contract that Los Angeles Lakers They have agreed with Luka Doncicnot only opens the door for a lasting relationship between the parties, but also speaks of a union that should, judging by the history of the team, to be the starting point to try to add championships at the 17 that he has achieved so far.
Luka has had an exciting summer for fans. He worked his physical preparation as never before, recruited players in the free agency and talked about the team is in “winning right now.” He does not escape the challenge, but faces him.
We will only have to see if, now that it has lost a few pounds thanks to a methodical and responsible physical work, it is ready to load with the obligations and the historical weight of one of the most winning franchises of the NBA.
Historically, the Lakers are not measured with the same rod as other teams when defining whether a season turned out to be successful or not. And that has its explanation: they were successful success throughout the seven and a half decades of the NBA.
In the 40s, the Minneapolis Lakers won the title in 1949. In the 50s, they consolidated as the first NBA dynasty won four titles (1950, 1952, 1953 and 1954). In the 60s, and with the team installed in Los Angeles, he reached six finals, but they could not win any because of Boston Celtics.
In 1972 they were champions again and in 1980 they lived one of their most glorious times with the showtime of Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar which won five of the eight finals he played. And in the last 25 years, with icons like Kobe, Shaq, Pau Gasol and LeBron Five more arrived to complete 17 in total. If we leave out of consideration the titles achieved in Minneapolis, we will also discover that in each champion squad there was a star that came from another team, either as a free agent or arriving by the way of a change. Six are six the names of the stars that were a factor for the Lakers to join 17 titles today. Here we review it.
On July 9, 1968, the Philadelphia 76ers He was transferred to Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for three players (Darrall Imhoff, Archie Clark and Jerry Chambers) and an unleashed amount of cash.
The Big Dipper, as they called it, played six seasons for the Angelino team with averages of 17.7 points, 19.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists in regular season, while in the playoffs its numbers were 15.8 points, 3.6 assists and 22.3 rebounds per game. He was champion in 1972.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
From Milwaukee Bucksteam with which he had been champion in 1971, Abdul-Jabbar arrived at the Lakers with Walt Wesley in exchange for Elmore Smith, Brian Winters, Junior Bridgeman and Dave Meyers. The agreement was closed on June 16, 1975, eight months after informing the Bucks of their desire to be transferred.
His arrival would forever modify the history of the Lakers, since Abdul-Jabbar won five championships with the franchise, achieving one of them in the legendary Boston Garden where the Celtics had never lost some finals in their home.
Shaquille O’Neal
On July 18, 1996, Shaquille O’Neal became the fundamental stone of what would be a dynasty in the 2000s. Shaq gave the yes to the Lakers in exchange for a contract of $ 120 million dollars for seven seasons.
Next to Kobe Bryant He formed one of the most dominant doubles in history, averaging 27.0 points, 11.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.5 caps per game in regular season. In playoffs its numbers were 27.7 points, 13.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.5 tapas in eight seasons. But the most important thing were his three champion rings (2000, 2001 and 2002) and his three MVP awards in these finals.
Pau Gasol
It was one of those changes that occurred in surprise, but when the Lakers needed it more. On February 1, 2009, he arrived from Memphis Grizzlies next to a second round selection in exchange for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittendon, Aaron McKie, Draft’s rights of his brother Marc and two first round selections. The impact was immediate.
Since their arrival, the Lakers played 3 consecutive finals winning the last two in 2009 and 2010. He was a perfect partner for Kobe Bryant and in the 2010 ends against Boston had his best averages with 19.6 points, 11.1 rebounds (4.0 offensive) and 2.1 caps in 23 games.
With their arrival, the Lakers woke up from a long lethargy after one of the darkest periods of the team in its history in the mid -2010 in the player with the most points in history, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Even the pleasure of sharing team with Bronny, his eldest son.
Its averages in seven regular seasons are 26.6 points, 8.1 assists and 7.9 rebounds, while statistics in five playoffs reached numbers of 26.0 points, 7.7 assists and 9.5 rebounds.
He arrived at the Lakers on November 13, 2019, in a change with New Orleans Pelicans who received Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart, three first round teams and two exchanges options in future Drafts.
Together with LeBron James, he formed the most dominant duo after which Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol joined. He was champion in 2020 and his averages in the finals against Miami Heat were 25.0 points, 10.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.0 caps and 42.1% of triple effectiveness in 38.2 minutes on the court.
Luka Doncic is the new star that arrived at the Lakers to be champion. Will the successful formula be repeated?
