LOS ANGELES. – The Los Angeles Lakers’ dismal start to the NBA season should come as no surprise and the revamped team needs more time to gel, LeBron James’ former teammate Dwyane Wade told Reuters.
Los Angeles’ bold offseason moves, which included the addition of veterans Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony and the departure of Alex Caruso and Kyle Kuzma, have resulted in a disappointing 8-7 record that has left the Lakers seventh in the Western Conference.
James has missed seven games, including Monday’s (Tuesday in Manila) blowout home loss to the Chicago Bulls, with an abdominal strain and a frustrated Anthony Davis recently said the 2020 title winners were not “a championship team right now”.
“The biggest thing they need to do is all be healthy and play a lot of minutes together,” Wade, who retired in 2019, said in Los Angeles while promoting his new photographic memoir, “DWYANE”.
“They had training camp and you expect what? Just because they’re great players, for them to dominate the game? It doesn’t work like that,” he said.
“It takes time for everybody to find their roles, find their comfort, and understand the sacrifice that’s needed.”
James is not the only important piece out of action for the purple and gold. Trevor Ariza, Kendrick Nunn, and Austin Reaves have also been sidelined with injuries and missed Monday’s contest.
“It hurts you when guys are in and out of the lineup,” Wade said.
