The Los Angeles Lakers finished the 2018-2019 season with a 37-45 record and the 10th-best record in the Western Conference.
While the team fell short of the playoffs in their first season with LeBron James, there were a few reasons for their shortcomings.
Lance Stephenson, who played on that team, has recently discussed their woes with Bally Sports.
“A lot of guys got hurt; I feel like we would’ve won it that year,” Stephenson said via Brandon Robinson.
LeBron James’ Lakers would’ve won Championship in 2019 if LeBron & Kyle Kuzma hadn’t gotten hurt says Lance Stephenson to @BallySports.
“We woulda won it!”
“LeBron got hurt that year with his groin, Kuzma got hurt. A lot of guys got hurt, I feel like we would’ve won it that… pic.twitter.com/dnFUMAQUt6
— 👑 Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson (@ScoopB) July 27, 2023
Stephenson pointed to several factors, including James’ and Kyle Kuzma’s injuries.
Stephenson believes they would have taken home the NBA Finals trophy if they wouldn’t have happened.
Kuzma and James missed significant time, two of the team’s biggest stars during that season.
While it might not feel like a consolation prize to him, the Lakers won the following year’s finals.
Coincident or not, Stephenson was not a part of that roster, which could be why he discusses what could have been the prior season.
After playing for the Lakers for just one year, Stephenson bounced between the NBA and various overseas leagues.
He is currently slated to play for Leones de Ponce, a Puerto Rico-based team in the FIBA Americas League.
While it’s undetermined if Stephenson will ever appear in the NBA again, it’s clear that he regrets not winning a title with the Lakers.
He doesn’t have an NBA Finals ring to his name, something he sought after for his entire career.
Will he succeed with this new organization, hoping to continue his professional basketball dreams?
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