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Following their victory in the 2020 Orlando bubble, the LA Lakers won a record sixth NBA championship in the 21st century. They now have 17 titles, which is a record for the most championship wins in NBA history, along with that of the Boston Celtics. In this article, we'll take a look at the LA Lakers' dream starting-5 of this century.
The greatest starting-5 of the LA Lakers in the 21st century
At the beginning of the 21st century, the LA Lakers were the most dominant dynasty in the league as it won three consecutive championships from 2000-2002.
Kobe Bryant helped the franchise add two more banners by leading the Lakers to back-to-back chips in 2009-2010. After a dry spell during the 2010s, the LA Lakers were once again back to winning ways in 2020 under the leadership of LeBron James.
On that note, let's take a look at the greatest LA Lakers starting-5 in the past two decades:
Point Guard - Steve Nash
Though Steve Nash was associated with the LA Lakers for just three seasons, it's difficult not to pick the 4-time MVP as the team's starting point guard. Nash, who is often considered among the greatest playmakers in the history of the league, was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame in 2018.
Even though Nash made it to the 2012 All-Star game as an LA Lakers player, he was then well past his prime and was only a shadow of the player he once was. Nevertheless, Steve Nash, who was loved by the Los Angeles fans during his time at the franchise, played a key role along with Kobe Bryant during the mid-2010s.
Also Read: How Many rings do Lakers have?
Shooting Guard - Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant is arguably the greatest LA Lakers player of all time. After being drafted by the Purple and Gold at the age of 18, Bryant spent his entire career spanning 20 years with the LA Lakers, giving his heart and soul to the team.
Also Read: Who is Kobe Bryant’s wife, Vanessa Bryant?
During his legendary career, the Mamba won five NBA championships and made 18 All-Star appearances. Apart from his talents on the court, his work ethic and dedication to the team has cemented his place as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
Also read: 5 crucial decisions the LA Lakers have to make this off-season.
Small Forward - LeBron James
It's impossible to have anyone other than LeBron James at the small forward position for the LA Lakers. Though the 35-year-old played the role of a point forward during the 2019-20 NBA season, he has played at the 3 position for the majority of his career.
Within just two years of joining the LA Lakers, LeBron James helped the team win their 17th title, which the team did so in 2020. The 4-time MVP will continue to play for the Lakers for a few more years and hopes to add more titles with the LA Lakers in the future.
Power Forward - Pau Gasol
Even though an argument could be made for Anthony Davis as the LA Lakers' dream power forward, Pau Gasol gets the spot on this team because of the impact he had during his seven years in Los Angeles.
Gasol played for the Purple and Gold from 2008-2014 and was a key component in the franchise's title victories in 2009 and 2010. He was one of the most versatile offensive players in the LA Lakers' frontcourt and was the perfect number 2 for Kobe Bryant during the early 2010s.
Center - Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille O'Neal is one of the most dominant forces to have ever stepped on a basketball court. During the early 2000s, Shaq was simply unstoppable in the paint and was a nightmare for opponent defenses.
He formed one of the greatest dynamic duos along with Kobe Bryant. The two of them helped the LA Lakers win three consecutive titles from 2000-2002. Shaquille O'Neal was the Finals MVP on all three occasions and also won the regular-season MVP award in 2000.
Guess the Lakers players!
