Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant may be a bit, um, biased when it comes to the team he played for 20 seasons. However, the no-nonsense Bryant knows better than most what it takes to be a playoff team, with five NBA championships and 220 playoff appearances (seventh-most of all-time).
So if Kobe believes that this Lakers team is bound for the postseason? Well, we just may have to take his word for it. Especially when he essentially scoffs at the notion that they won't make it.
In an interview with The Undefeated‘s Jerry Bembry, Bryant threw his full support behind the notion that the Lakers are a playoff team in the tough Western Conference. The primary reason for his belief that the Purple and Gold will make the postseason is that they acquired LeBron James, still considered the best player in the NBA, as a free agent in July.
You say surprise people? A definite playoff team?
Oh, God, yes. C’mon.
A lot of people don’t see this, even with LeBron, as a playoff team in the West.
C’mon. (Laughing.)
James has reached the NBA Finals for the last eight seasons and hasn't been on a team that missed the playoffs since his second season in the league. He's the NBA's all-time leader in playoff points (6,911), minutes played (10,049) and steals (419) while being third all-time in assists (1,687), fourth all-time in games played (239) and sixth all-time in total rebounds (2,122).
He's a postseason veteran and such a consistent force in the NBA, it's nearly impossible to imagine James on a team that doesn't reach the playoffs. Even in the West.
With the young nucleus of talent in Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma and Lonzo Ball, along with the all-around dominance of James, Los Angeles has one of the more talented teams in their conference.
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