Lakers News: Former Laker Says Team Was Capable of Back-to-Back Titles in 2021

The Los Angeles Lakers ' chances for a back-to-back championship in 2021 were significantly impacted by injuries, according to a former player. After winning the NBA title in the 2019-20 season, the Lakers faced challenges in the following years, primarily due to health issues.

Following their championship win, the Lakers made significant roster changes that disappointed many fans. However, the team's general manager worked to create a more balanced squad with younger talent. The Lakers started strong with a 21-7 record, but an injury to star player Anthony Davis disrupted their momentum. Soon after, LeBron James also faced injury setbacks.

Despite these challenges, the Lakers managed to reach the playoffs and even took a 2-1 series lead against the Phoenix Suns. Unfortunately, Davis suffered another injury, leading to the Lakers losing the next three games and being eliminated from the playoffs. Many believe that if Davis had remained healthy, the Lakers would have successfully defended their title.

This sentiment is echoed by former Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma, who expressed confidence that the team would have repeated as champions without the injury setbacks. He highlighted the difficulties the team faced, including the quick turnaround from their championship run to the next season.

“Yeah, for sure, “ Kuzma said . “Easily. I mean, we were up 2-1 and [AD] got hurt and it all went down the drain. That season was hard for us because Bron got hurt — Solomon Hill ran into him — AD was down. We had a lot of different lineups and we came back from the bubble where we won the championship in October and then we had to play like two months later so naturally it was tough but we would’ve won back-to-back.”

Kuzma's perspective is noteworthy, as players often refrain from openly discussing such topics. After the playoff series, Kuzma was traded to bring in Russell Westbrook, a move that ultimately did not yield the expected results for the franchise.

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Had the Lakers managed to secure a second consecutive title, the dynamics of the team might have been very different, potentially altering the course of their roster decisions. The lingering question remains: what could have been for the Lakers during the 2020-21 season?