Last season, LeBron James played with an injury that could require offseason surgery, but he believes that it was beneficial to the Los Angeles Lakers rather than Dwyane Wade.
If James hadn’t sustained an injury throughout the season, Wade was questioned by Shannon Sharpe about his thoughts on whether the result of the Western Conference Finals against the Denver Nuggets would have varied.
“I think the outcome is different between the Lakers,” Wade said at the 42:25 mark. “With him getting that time away, actually we got a chance to see them grow as a team outside of LeBron. We got to see A.D. (Anthony Davis) grow at that level. Obviously, when he on the floor, we was like, ‘Top five player in the league.’ We got a chance to see what the D-Lo (D’Angelo Russell) can bring and what Austin Reaves can bring.
“The best thing to happen to the Lakers was LeBron’s absence because it allowed them to not have to depend on him, right? Because when you got a great player, you depend on that great player. And so they have the rock, and they have something to play for in the middle of that. And so I think it was great for the Lakers.”
The Lakers had a strong season, reaching the playoffs and surviving the play-in round to make it to the postseason. However, they were eliminated by the Nuggets in a surprising run, sweeping them in the conference finals and ending their journey into the finals.
Dennis Schroder also became a valuable contributor after arriving in a trade with the Washington Wizards in January, and Rui Hachimura was a vital component. The players mentioned, Reaves and Russell Davis Wade, were not the only ones who improved as the season progressed.
LeBron James, the 38-year-old Lakers player, proved that he could score in the low 20s and win games in the playoffs. He also showed that he was still capable of recording triple-doubles. When he returned to the lineup, he was able to use his supporting cast in a different way, which was necessary for the team to succeed. In his last season, James started the fewest number of games he has ever played in a full 82-game season, with only 54 regular season games started.
It is worth noting that he hasn’t confirmed he will be back for his 21st NBA season, but the Nuggets almost expect him to follow through on that thought and actually retire in the immediate aftermath of the season-ending loss, hinting at the possibility of surgery and injury requiring offseason dealing with.
After a season in which they made significant progress, the Lakers are looking to make moves in the 2022-23 season. They are considering signing Russell, an unrestricted free agent, as well as keeping Hachimura and Reaves, who are restricted free agents. The Lakers definitely want to build a roster that is capable of winning a championship and surrounding LeBron James with talented players. However, rumors of a reunion with Kyrie Irving may be even less likely than James’ retirement.