4 X-factors that can elevate an NBA title contender to a championship

NBA: Kendrick Nunn-Los Angeles Lakers

If the Los Angeles Lakers manage to stay healthy, they may not need an x-factor considering they’ve won more than 70% of their games when LeBron James and Anthony Davis both play. We know that’s unlikely, however, given that James will turn 38 this season and Davis is, well, Davis. Hopefully, Russell Westbrook will step up and pick up the slack, and he still might, but they’ll need someone else to help carry the team and get them back into contention.

I expect that player to be Kendrick Nunn. Nunn was a value signing for the Lakers last offseason but missed the entire year with a knee injury. Go figure. Now he’s back and has played surprisingly well in the preseason. I know, I know, “it’s only the preseason,” but it’s hard not to be impressed with his play thus far.

In his first three games back after missing more than a year of basketball, Nunn averaged 17 points and 3.3 assists in his first three games back while shooting 58.8% from three on nearly six attempts. Obviously, if he posts numbers anywhere near those, then the Lakers’ chances of returning to the postseason will receive a significant boost, and, 3-point shooting aside, those numbers are fairly close to his career averages.

Thus far in the preseason, Nunn has displayed impressive stretches of playmaking out of the pick and roll, including hitting the roll-man with a nice pass or skipping a pass over a shooter for an open three. He can also create for himself effectively by navigating screens and using them to create initial separation.

Nunn then uses stutter steps to throw help the defender’s timing off and then finishes with a floater in the paint. He can even shoot off the dribble, in addition to being a knockdown shooter. Overall, the tools are there for Nunn to be a secondary playmaker in the second unit, where his scoring and potential as a passer can give the Lakers a much-needed lift and hopefully get them back into playoff contention.

Ultimately, the 76ers, Warriors, Celtics, and Lakers’ fortunes could ride on the performances of players like Maxey, Wiseman, White, and Nunn. If those players live up to or even exceed expectations, then their teams could go the distance and win the NBA Finals.