Heading into the 2023-24 season, the Los Angeles Lakers are viewed as one of the juggernauts in the Western Conference.
They have a dynamic duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis taking the helm of the franchise.
But players like D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and more are the true X-factors for the Purple and Gold.
Speaking of Russell and Reaves, Lakers head coach Davin Ham recently confirmed that they will be the starting guards for the team in the 2023-24 season, via NBACentral on Twitter.
The Lakers will start D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves in their backcourt next season, per Darvin Ham pic.twitter.com/VEr4PXRVZ2
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) September 28, 2023
With training camp right around the corner, the Lakers will most likely practice with the backcourt of Russell and Reaves.
The duo impressed the Lakers last season and played a key role in the team’s late-season push to finish as the seventh seed in the Western Conference.
They were also part of the Lakers’ Conference Finals roster but couldn’t stop the Denver Nuggets from sweeping them.
As for their stats, Russell averaged 17.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 6.1 assists over 17 games for the Lakers.
On the other hand, Reaves had 13.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game last season.
Both players were re-signed by the organization in the offseason, as it showed the Lakers’ trust in the duo.
Moreover, that trust has only increased with Ham’s decision to start them for the season.
Considering the Lakers have a deep roster, Russell and Reaves cannot take their selection for granted.
After all, it doesn’t take long for the Lakers fanbase to vouch for benching their starters.
NEXT: Darvin Ham Talks Anthony Davis' Work During The Offseason
