For the first time in basically ever, both Los Angeles NBA teams are viewed as title contenders heading into the same season.
The Lakers got the ball rolling by swinging a blockbuster trade to acquire Anthony Davis back in June followed by numerous key signings such as Danny Green, Avery Bradley and Dwight Howard.
The Clippers then landed a haymaker of their own after signing Kawhi Leonard and trading for Paul George on the same night in July, instantly vaulting them to the top of the league in most rankings.
As for who the bigger winner of the offseason was between the Lakers and the Clippers?
LeBron James took a different approach, saying that the arena that houses both teams is what is truly emerging victorious:
“Everyone's talking about the big winner of the summertime. It's actually Staples Center,” James said at Lakers media day on Friday, via ClutchPoints. “If you're a fan of basketball, you get to see the Lakers one night, and the Clippers the next.”
James then credited commissioner Adam Silver for the parity in the NBA:
“I love what the NBA is doing,” LeBron James said. “We continue to be the greatest sport in the world. Our league is in a great position right now. Adam Silver has done an unbelievable job.”
James is absolutely right in that the Staples Center may end up being the biggest winner in all of this, in that it now gets the pleasure of hosting two of the best teams in the NBA, and it will get to host both clubs simultaneously on Oct. 22, as the Lakers and Clippers will battle on opening night.