The final word on NBA superteams
LOS Angeles is the city where storms are hoops storms are brewing, a little more than their Eastern counterparts, New York.
Both cities are the hubs of commerce and entertainment, so it’s not a coincidence that places. Basketball is not an exception.
Where opportunities grow, people follow. This is how LA and New York — and every great city hereafter, were built. People civilizations were formed near rivers. There’s an easy explanation for that.
So when rumors of superstars wanting to play in LA or New York emerge, it is simply human nature working. There are four teams in these cities, and 26 fan bases will raise their pitchforks in righteous rage and envy.
Superteam brewing in Tinseltown?
“Laker fans are delusional, why would LeBron even think of going there?”
It was funny until it actually happened. Whispers and rumblings went on for a year, and the many pundits said LeBron would be stupid to make such a move. Guess what, pundits, LeBron isn’t listening!
LeBron does listen to his family. His son, who liked living in LA in the summer and wanted to study and play there. James also has a production company based in LA, among other stuff. He found it inconvenient to travel to LA while his family waited in Ohio. He had a choice, and most family men reading this column would probably do the same thing — choose what’s best for his family.
Now, Kawhi is at the crossroads. A California native, he understood that playing in the NBA meant living in the city whose team drafted him. At least until free agency — which is now.
There are rumors that Kawhi still wants to play in LA, and he waited eight years for this. At first, it was just the LA Clippers, but now that the Lakers carved out cap space, the buzz is strong that he could form the most dangerous triumvirate with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Why superteams are inevitable
NBA titles are difficult to win. It takes a combination of talent, hard work, timing and even luck in terms of injuries ( hello Toronto!) to win a title.
NBA games in the 80s and 90s are different from the games now. There is more range, more complicated screens, more switching. The basic pick and roll has emerged into more complex variations. The pace and number of possessions have increased, which means players are running all over the court.
Defenders used to allow open three pointers, until teams like the Warriors killed them with it. Now they have to chase down shooters from the three point line and beyond.
Kawhi works hard, and the Raptors gave him more than 20 games off the regular season, and it paid off. If he joins the Lakers, they could have more “load management” also for LeBron and Davis.
It is almost impossible to reduce the 82 regular season games due to TV contracts and ticket packages. This results in too much wear and tear for the players, and frankly, we have forgotten that these millionaire physical specimens are also human. The Kevin Durant injury is a harsh reminder of that.
Hypocrisy in hatred
We have also judged players’ careers on team success. This is a team game championships, are the barometer for a successful career. We have glorified Michael Jordan’s 6- 0 Finals record and shamed LeBron James for his 3- 6, worse for players who couldn’t make it there.
This is partly what compelled Kevin Durant, and it rings a bell in Kawhi’s mind. If you can carve an easier path to reach your goal, why would you not take it? It works for us, why not for them—fellow humans with slightly more gifts?
We talk about good locker room influences, about having good role models and being around winners. That’s exactly what superteams are — leaving a toxic team environment and joining likeminded peers.
Durant wanted a title, Westbrook wanted stats. The Lakers had AD’s idol. Kawhi wants to play — and win at home. No apologies necessary.