Stephen A. Smith says the Los Angeles Lakers should be ranked higher than fourth among the NBA title contenders in the ESPN rankings.

ESPN has the Los Angeles Clippers as the title favorites for next season, followed by the Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers, Lakers, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets and Utah Jazz.

Stephen A. says because the Lakers have the best dynamic duo in the league in LeBron James and Anthony Davis, they should be higher than fourth.

In LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Lakers have two of the most efficient scorers in NBA history on their roster.

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Chicago Bulls legend and Hall of Famer Michael Jordan has the best player efficiency rating in NBA history at 27.91. James is second at 27.59 and Davis is third at 27.42.

Last season, LeBron averaged 27.4 points, 8.5 rebounds and 8.3 assists in 55 games while shooting 51.0 percent from the field, 33.9 percent from beyond the arc and 66.5 percent from the free-throw line. The Lakers star has been resting since April and is going to be fresh and hungry to make some noise in 2019-20.

For the New Orleans Pelicans in 2018-19, Davis put up 25.9 points, 12.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.4 blocks in 56 games. The six-time All-Star shot 51.7 percent from the floor, 33.1 percent from the 3-point line and 79.4 percent from the charity stripe.

The battle of Los Angeles between the Clippers and Lakers is going to be very exciting to watch next season. NBA fans are hoping the two teams will meet in the 2020 Western Conference Finals.