There is no doubt that the Los Angeles Lakers are a very troubled team.
Their last season was an absolute mess and the team missed the playoffs.
They even missed the play-in tournament, even with LeBron James and Anthony Davis leading the way.
One of the biggest complaints about the team is that too many of their young up-and-comers need more time to develop.
Then and now – ex lakers young core edition pic.twitter.com/ltSUsohXWV
— $ (@LeBIKUZO) August 21, 2022
But there is one young group of young players who came from the Lakers in the recent past that have all become superstars.
Jordan Clarkson of the Utah Jazz, D’Angelo Russell of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Brandon Ingram of the New Orleans Pelicans, and Julius Randle of the New York Knicks all got their starts with the Lakers.
They didn’t have spectacular tenures with LA but they all went on to be true forces for other teams.
And lately, they have all been looking wild with big beards and untamed cuts.
But they have proven that it doesn’t matter what they look like as long as they keep performing brilliantly on the floor.
A Great Class
When LA fans consider that each of these young men once played for the Lakers, they shake their heads knowing the team gave them up.
Obviously, none of them were the players they are now when Los Angeles traded them away.
Still, it stings to know that they all reached such greatness after shedding the purple and gold.
There is a chance that some of them – most likely Randle or Russell – could return to the Lakers at some point.
And if they do, they will no longer be unproven rookies.
Times have changed and so have their styles and these youthful athletes have all gotten better.