3 surprising ways the Lakers can return to championship glory next season

It's been over four years since the Los Angeles Lakers won their 17th NBA championship. The 2020 Lakers team was a big, defensive-minded bunch that slowed the game down and executed late. Since then, the Lakers have abandoned that approach. Below are three things the Lakers must prioritize to get back to the Finals. 

3. Point-Lebron

This past Olympics, Lebron James won the tournament MVP as the primary ball handler for Team USA. He also served as the "point guard" for the Lakers in 2020, usually paired with wings Danny Green and Kentavious Caldwell Pope.

James is one of the best passers in League history, with over 11,000 assists. Having him initiate the offense puts immense pressure on the defense, especially in transition. However, the most prominent luxury of having James at the one is that it allows the Lakers to have two wings on the perimeter, giving them a lot of flexibility defensively.

Austin Reaves and D'Angelo Russel have been in the backcourt for the past few seasons, with James at the three. Reaves and Russell are two of the Lakers best creators offensively, averaging 14.4 and 17.7 points per game, respectively. The downside is that the Lakers haven't had a top 10 defense with the duo as their starting backcourt. In their championship season, they finished third, and the year after, they finished first.

The Lakers need to return to that style of basketball, and James's presence as a point guard gives them the necessary flexibility. With their current roster, a trio like James, Reaves, and Rui Hachimura is worth considering.