Los Angeles Lakers: 3 players facing the most pressure in 2018-19

1. LeBron James

When it was announced LeBron James was taking his talent to Los Angeles to join the purple and gold, many people had a lot to say on the subject.

Unsurprisingly, most of it was negative, with the main points being that by moving to LA and joining a Lakers squad without another star to play Robin in a ridiculously deep Western Conference, LeBron’s main focus is now off the court instead of on it.

There’s also the belief that with Magic’s focus on the free agent class of 2019, James is basically taking a year off from title contention and waiting until reinforcements arrive.

This move for LeBron certainly has its pros, but it also brings along plenty of cons that shouldn’t be ignored. He’s entering his 16th season and will be 34 in December.

Who knows just how good LA’s young talent can become and there’s no guarantee the team will be able to attract a top-level free agent next summer.

James knew what he was signing up for by joining the Lakers, but that won’t stop everyone and their mothers from watching every second of his games in an attempt to scorn his decision.

Let’s also not forget about the expectations placed on The King from the staunchest of Kobe Bryant supporters, who will stop at nothing to make sure their beloved Black Mamba isn’t forgotten in this new era of NBA debates.

There’s a lot of pressure on LeBron James this season. Given the state of the Lakers, it’s not championship or bust, but the organization is accustomed to a certain standard of excellence.

If the four-time MVP can’t deliver to that level, his decision could ultimately end up damaging his legacy.