NBA: The 3 best Los Angeles Lakers' performers of 2018

2018 was a year of change for the Los Angeles Lakers. The team ended the 2017/18 NBA season with another disappointing record (35-47), and this marked the fifth consecutive season in which the team had failed to qualify for the postseason.

Despite this, the franchise managed to attract LeBron James during the summer, and the team has since acquired a number of veteran players such as Rajon Rondo, JaVale McGee, Lance Stephenson, Tyson Chandler, and Michael Beasley.

These summer acquisitions have changed the dynamics of the franchise, as the combination of experience with the Lakers much talked about 'Young Core' has resulted in the Lakers making a 23-19 start to the season. The Lakers recent struggles are now a thing of the past and fans of the team now have an exciting future to look forward to.

Therefore, with 2018 now behind us, here we will reflect on the Lakers best performers from the previous twelve months.

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#3 Josh Hart

Hart guarding Paul George of the OKC Thunder

Josh Hart was drafted as the 30th overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft by the Utah Jazz, although he was subsequently traded to the Lakers. Not much was expected from a player that had spent four years from Villanova, however, Hart quickly established himself as a member of the team's much talked about 'Young Core'.

In his debut season, Hart slowly earned more minutes in the rotation and finished the 2017/18 campaign averaging 7.9 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.

The 23-year-old was among the Lakers linked with a trade during the 2018 off-season, although Hart stayed in LA, and he has started nearly half of the Lakers games this season. Hart has also improved his points per game tally to 9.4 and is also averaging almost twice as many steals and blocks when compared to his stats for the 2017/18 season.

#2 Kyle Kuzma

Kuzma has been a good surprise for the Lakers

Kyle Kuzma's performances were one of the biggest surprises of the 2017/18 NBA season, and he has further improved so far this season. After playing three years of college basketball, Kuzma was selected with the 27th overall pick in the 2017 draft by the Nets. Nevertheless, Kuzma was quickly sent to the Lakers, after Magic Johnson made the decision to trade away D'Angelo Russell.

In his first season in LA, Kuzma benefited from a weak Lakers roster to quickly impose himself as one of the teams key players. The 23-year-old finished the 2017/18 season averaging 16.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, and despite all the Lakers summer acquisitions, Kuzma has remained a vital part of the Lakers offence.

Kuzma is averaging 18.8 points so far this season, and he is arguably the Lakers' best player behind LeBron. Evidently, Lakers fans will be hoping that the power forward is kept out of any trade talks for Anthony Davis.

#1 LeBron James

Los Angeles Lakers have a chance to compete deep into the playoffs with James

While LeBron James only spent the final few months of 2018 playing with the Lakers, there is no doubting the monumental impact that the superstar has already had on the team.

James has been the crucial factor to the Lakers' resurgence this season, as he has quickly transformed the team from one of the worst in the West to one that is hoping to compete against the Golden State Warriors in the postseason.

Despite recently turning 34, James has shown no signs of slowing down and the veteran is still making the argument that he is the NBA's best player.

During 2018, James averaged 27.3 points, 7.1 assists and 8.3 rebounds with the Lakers, and he also delivered a number of memorable performances such as the 51 points he dropped on his former employers, the Miami Heat.

Ultimately, LeBron has successfully made the Lakers relevant again, and James' individual performances will be the deciding factor in how far the Lakers will go in the postseason.