How The 2021 Lakers Looked In 2013: LeBron On The Heat, AD On The Pelicans, Westbrook On The Thunder

The Athletic

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The 2021/22 Los Angeles Lakers are a well-rounded team with a lot of experience and talent. They are considered title favorites alongside the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks. 

With the addition of big names like Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, and Rajon Rondo, this squad is poised to have a deep playoff run and reclaim their throne following a disappointing 2020/21 season where they only lasted one playoff round. 

Fans have made jokes about the roster, but these Lakers are very dangerous. It's pretty common to see comparisons between these players and their best version. The Athletic did this recently, sharing a pic of Anthony Davis, LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Carmelo Anthony, Russell Westbrook and Rajon Rondo with their teams in 2013. 

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Things were very different back then. Anthony Davis was with the New Orleans Pelicans, LeBron James won his second NBA ring that year with the Miami Heat. Carmelo Anthony and Rajon Rondo were big rivals for The King in the Eastern Conference with the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics, respectively. 

Russell Westbrook was apart of the Oklahoma City Thunder, creating a terrific duo with Kevin Durant. Last but not least, Dwight Howard was with the Houston Rockets, entering the worst years of his career after a failed tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers. 

Eight years later, all these players are reunited on the Lakers. Some of them are trying to win a championship for the first time in their careers despite their age and all the criticism they've received in recent years. 

The Lakers have big expectations entering this season, and time will tell if their age and experience will be enough to beat the Bucks and Nets in a potential Finals matchup.