As the NBA’s star franchise, the Los Angeles Lakers have the biggest following in basketball, with millions of fans worldwide proudly calling the Purple and Gold their team.
On the flip side, they’re also the NBA’s most hated team, and it’s rare that a day goes by without a joke being shared at the team’s expense. Recently, those “haters” got their chance to troll the team again, and they did not pass it up.
After some shots of the Lakers during their “media day” photo shoot got posted online, the trolls came out in full force to roast the new-look roster.
This team is 7 years too late https://t.co/TkUKEAy0he
— BGN Hoops (@BGNHoops) September 28, 2021
I already saw how this one ends pic.twitter.com/b7Hni6bh5x
— Chris (@kasstopher) September 28, 2021
They would actually be decent in 2012
— Joey Ballgame (@ballgamejoe) September 28, 2021
Every ice machine in the league after a lakers game pic.twitter.com/EoIRIbyUbd
— Aj (@4starAT) September 28, 2021
https://twitter.com/TimEdmonds_/status/1442915627337875460
— 🐔Narias MC Narias🐔 (@nicoariasDP) September 28, 2021
If this was 10 years ago this team would go undefeated. Now… might limp to a 5 seed at best.
— Sean Faska (@Sean7Faska) September 28, 2021
Not sure where this was taken, but this nursing home is going to blow up with applications!!!
— LT3 (@samoalt3) September 28, 2021
This needs to be the highest paid medical/training staff in sports ASAP
— Aaron Hirsch (@a__aron3) September 28, 2021
The Lakers’ core is on the older side, and it’s been a running gag all summer long. LeBron James is 36 (turning 37 in December), Rajon Rondo and Dwight Howard are 35, and Carmelo Anthony is going on 38.
Indeed, the roster is experienced and there is no guarantee things will work out as they hope. But, as Frank Vogel has already explained, age doesn’t necessarily make them any less capable.
“I’m not asked, I’m told that we’re old… I’m in my mid-30s, I like that… It sounds wonderful.”
“I don’t really like the narrative. I don’t. These guys can play. We have great players on our team. Yes, some of them are towards the end of their career. But, they’re still producing at a high level. If you’re producing at a high level, it doesn’t matter how old you are.”
The Lakers won’t jump the highest, or run the fastest, but their experience, talent, and determination are more than enough to get them far into the postseason.
The key, of course, will be the play of their two main stars, LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Just like the past two years before, the Lakers will only go as far as that duo takes them.
Regardless, they’ll have a whole lot to prove over these next few months.
