Hoops Habit
Fansided

Los Angeles Lakers: 7 best out-of-prime Lakers

By Orestis Rantis

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 27: Dwight Howard #12 of the Los Angeles Lakers leaves the court with four fouls in front of Pau Gasol #16 and Steve Nash #10 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Staples Center on January 27, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 27: Dwight Howard #12 of the Los Angeles Lakers leaves the court with four fouls in front of Pau Gasol #16 and Steve Nash #10 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Staples Center on January 27, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers Photo by Harry How/Getty Images /

7 & 6. Steve Nash and Dwight Howard

Starting off this list with a pair that would be better mentioned as one. Steve Nash and Dwight Howard joined the Los Angeles Lakers via two different trades, leading to the creation of a superteam, along with Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol.

On paper, this team looked like they could take on the world. Nash was approaching 40, though he led the league in assists the year before. Gasol was a reliable borderline All-Star. Kobe was still averaging 28 points per game and Howard was right in his prime, clearly the best big man in the league and bound to be the next great Laker center.

What followed, was…really far off from everybody’s expectations. Instead of being gifted a LeBron James-Kobe Bryant NBA Finals, the Lakers would go ahead and barely make the playoffs, only to get swept in the first round by the San Antonio Spurs.

Related Story. Lakers: Ranking the last 10 first-round picks. light

To be honest, something was just off with this team. Maybe it was the increased number of “alpha-dogs” in that locker room, but it seemed like each one of those stars was willing to put their individual accomplishments ahead of the team.

Nash would stay for another season in 2013-14, though injuries prevented him from playing more than 15 games before retiring.

When it comes to Dwight, almost every NBA fan is much too familiar with each of his destinations after leaving LA. Houston, Atlanta, Charlotte and Washington, all used Howard’s services, before he made the decision to return to LA for the 2019-20 season.

Home/Los Angeles Lakers