Player Capsule

Mike Trudell

SEASON SUMMARYBefore the 2018-19 season started, LeBron James had appeared in&nbsp;95.1 percent of the 1,453 games in his 15-year career,&nbsp;including all 239 playoff games, and spent more time on a basketball floor than all but eight players in NBA history.

His indestructibility coupled with his best-in-the-world game was the key reason why the Lakers were projected as, at worst, a mid-tier playoff team in a loaded Western Conference. And that’s where they stood, in the No. 4 seed, when James suffered the most significant injury of his career on Dec. 25 during a blowout win at Golden State. It sidelined him for 18 of the next 19 games, and ultimately limited him to career-low 55 games.

LeBron’s first season as a Laker was unfortunately defined by that injury. The Lakers went just 9-18 when he didn’t play, and 28-27 when he did, though many of those losses came when Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart were also out with their own injuries.

In fact, when LeBron, Ingram and Ball all played, the Lakers went 15-8. That they only shared the floor together for 23 games was quite unfortunate.

With that said, when LeBron James was on the court, he was … LeBron James. He led the Lakers in scoring, rebounds, assists, made 3’s, made free throws and minutes.

He averaged 27.4 points (+0.2 on his career average), 8.3 assists (+1.1), 8.5 rebounds (+1.1), 1.3 steals (-0.3), 0.6 blocks (-0.2), 51.1 percent FG’s (+0.6), 33.9 percent 3’s (-0.4) and 66.5 percent FT’s (-7.1). He ranked fifth in the league in scoring, and 66 percent of his points were unassisted. He was third in the NBA in assists, with the most by a Laker since Nick Van Exel (8.5) in 1996-97, and thus the only NBA player in the top five in scoring and assists … which makes sense, considering he’s the only player in league history to rank in the top 10 in scoring (fourth) and assists (10th).

Some advanced stats? James ranked 8th in the NBA in PER (25.64), 4th in offensive box plus/minus (6.2), 5th in box plus/minus, 10th in VORP, 5th in assist percentage (39.4), 7th in usage (31.6) and led the Lakers on the full time roster in net rating (2.1).

LeBron’s production was similar to his prior two years in Cleveland, when he was efficient offensively, and picked his spots defensively, as almost any veteran of 15 NBA seasons that carries a massive offensive load should do. Naturally, his defense on a game-to-game and quarter-to-quarter basis wasn’t going to match what it was in the playoffs, or when he was 25, but he knows how and when to pick his spots to impact the game on that end as well.

The difference in 2017-18 was that he was building towards a clear playoff run in which his minutes and production rose to the level of almost nobody in NBA history (34.0 points, 9.1 rebounds, 9.0 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.0 blocks in 41.9 minutes in 2017-18).

Due to the injury, he wasn’t able to build up to that point in 2018-19, but instead had to come back from six weeks off the court, and by that point, there proved too much ground to make up.

BY THE NUMBERS5.3: Fast break points for LeBron, which led the NBA.6: Teams (PHI, DEN, ORL, MIA, ATL, UTA) that averaged fewer isolation points than James, whose 4.5 per game ranked second in the NBA (next to James Harden, a ridiculous 18.1).8: Triple-doubles in his limited action, tied with Luka Doncic for 4th in the NBA (Westbrook, Jokic, Simmons).13.5: Points in the paint per game (5th in the NBA).51: Points scored at Miami, LeBron’s season high, and 12th career 50-point game.71.1: Shooting percentage in the restricted area, 3rd-best among 23 players with at least 450 attempts (Giannis Antetokounmpo 73.7; Rudy Gobert 71.7).

WHAT’S NEXTFor the first time since 2005, LeBron will have a full offseason for the body that’s endured 10,049 playoff minutes, and 46,235 regular season minutes, to recover. In fact, the last game James played was on March 29, which gives him a full six months until the likely start of training camp at the very end of September.

Last season, James played 41.9 minutes per game in 22 playoff games that finally concluded on June 8 when Cleveland lost to Golden State.

Imagine what LeBron, already notorious for doing everything possible to keep his body in elite condition, can do with all the extra time? Or just consider the lack of additional mileage on one’s body, especially one that does so much on the floor.

For most players, offseasons are about adding a particular skill that isn’t in one’s toolbox, or transforming one’s body. James is so far ahead of the pack in both that it’s more about supplementing what he’s been building for so many years.

Might James like to see his 3-point and free throw percentages rise next year? Sure. But his toolbox is already pretty full, and the most important thing for him, one can guess, is finding the right balance between rest/recovery and strength building for his body.

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2019 Player Capsule: LeBron James

Joey Ramirez

Season Summary
Los Angeles native David Nwaba had a season straight out of Hollywood. The University High product originally had to try out for a spot on the Los Angeles D-Fenders. He quickly became one of the team’s top contributors and a D-League Defensive Player of the Year candidate.

This earned Nwaba a call-up to the Lakers on Feb. 28, and he took full advantage. The 24-year-old’s defense drew rave reviews from Luke Walton and Rob Pelinka, who rewarded him with a multi-year contract. He also became a regular on the team’s highlight tapes with his trademark slams.

By the Numbers
0: Players from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in NBA history before Nwaba became the first.

58.0: Nwaba’s field goal percentage, which led the team.

64.7: Percentage shot for the D-Fenders. This mark ranked second in the D-League, as did his 134.8 offensive rating.

What’s Next
Nwaba’s original goal for the season was to simply make the Lakers’ Summer League team, which he plans to play for in July. He is also committed to working on his jumper (shot just 5-of-15 on such shots this season) and his ball handling with the ultimate goal of finding a spot on next year’s roster.

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2017 Player Capsule: David Nwaba

By the Numbers6: Games of 30-plus points for Kobe Bryant, who would occasionally turn back the clock.16: Games missed by the 37-year-old due to various injuries in his final season.18: Years since Bryant averaged so few points (17.6), rebounds (3.7), assists (2.8) and minutes (28.2) back in his sophomore season of 1997-98.

Season Summary
A trying final season concluded with a firework show for Bryant, who unleashed a 60-point effort in his career finale, powering the Lakers to victory over Utah. Though Bryant led his team in scoring this year, it was on a career-low 35.8 percent field goal percentage that ranked last among the league's 117 qualified players. He also shot just 28.5 percent from 3-point range and was unable to play the type of defense that landed him 12 All-Defensive honors in his career. While he didn't have the legs to shoot efficiently from outside, rest did help the 20-year veteran, as he averaged 19.1 points on a 42.1 percent clip when given at least three days off. Fortunately for Bryant — whose last three seasons had been cut short due to injuries — he did achieve his primary goal of being able to finish out the year on the court.

In His Own Words
"To try to climb up that (injury) mountain and get knocked down three years in a row and try to bounce back again — I’m just happy to sit here healthy, having finished the season. Those three years are the thing that I think sticks out most to me, because internally that was the most challenging."

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2016 Player Capsule: Kobe Bryant

By the Numbers5: Starts made by Metta World Peace, who had spent the previous season out of the NBA.17: Points scored against the Los Angeles Clippers on April 5, which led his team and were his season-high.66.7: Percentage shot on 3-pointers in the season's first two weeks, as he shot 8-of-12 to lead the league. However, World Peace finished with a clip of just 31.0.

Season Summary
After playing the previous season in Italy and China, World Peace was the last Laker to make the roster during training camp, which he considered one of the top accomplishments of his career. The 36-year-old shot a career-low 31.1 percent and wasn't able to consistently display his trademark defensive capabilities, but was more valuable on the practice court, where he helped mentor the Lakers' crop of young players. He also stepped up his production in his rare starts, averaging 8.6 points on 50.0 percent shooting.

In His Own Words
"This year, I earned it. People don't understand, man. I earned it. And I wasn't even guaranteed. That was the first time I was in a situation where I wasn't guaranteed. So I had to go out there and perform. ... I worked really hard for that last spot."

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2016 Player Capsule: Metta World Peace

By the Numbers7: Games played for the Los Angeles D-Fenders. Anthony Brown's offense was stronger in the D-League, where he averaged 14.6 points but still shot just 39.2 percent from the field.11: Starts made by Brown, who often went from sitting out a game to starting the next one when Kobe Bryant was unable to play.19: Games missed at the end of the season due to a stress fracture in his foot.

Season Summary
Heralded as a "3 and D" player when drafted 34th overall, Brown displayed half of that skill set as a rookie. He provided capable wing defense, ranking among the best first-year players in defensive field goal percentage before his season-ending injury in early March. However, the other side of the ball was a yearlong struggle, as he shot just 31.0 percent (39-of-126), including 28.6 percent on 3-pointers (20-of-70). Brown's clip dipped even lower, to 26.9 percent from the field, when thrust into the starting lineup.

In His Own Words
"I'd say the biggest thing this year was just staying levelheaded. There are going to be times when you're playing, times you're not playing; times you're playing well, times you're playing bad. But you just need to be consistent with your mind set."

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2016 Player Capsule: Anthony Brown

By the Numbers1: Times the Lakers played without Roy Hibbert in the starting lineup.4.6: Hibbert's block percentage, which ranked ninth in the NBA.269: Personal fouls committed by Hibbert, which were the league's third-most.

Season Summary
Hibbert was brought on board this season primarily to anchor the defense, which — due also to poor help from the perimeter and the prevalence of opposing small-ball offenses — he was unable to do effectively, as the Lakers allowed 106.9 points per game — the league's fourth-highest mark. Though Hibbert's defense wasn't at the level of his two All-Star seasons in 2012 and 2014, he did lead the team with 1.4 blocks. While he didn't seek much offensive production, calling it "candy," the 7-foot-2 veteran was largely absent on that end, providing a career-low 5.9 points. He also wasn't too active on the rebounding front, tallying only three double-doubles all year.

In His Own Words
"It was a rough one, but I'm realistic about how my year was and the team's year was. ... I'm gonna try to figure out a way to fit in (with the current NBA style) as much as possible."

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2016 Player Capsule: Roy Hibbert

By the Numbers1.6: Three-pointers per game by D'Angelo Russell, who led all rookies.23.3: Points averaged by Russell during an eight-game stretch from late February through early March.39: Points scored by Russell against Brooklyn on March 1, which were the most by a rookie Laker since Elgin Baylor in 1959.

Season Summary
It was a year of growth for the 2015 draft's second-overall pick, as he was quickly relegated to the bench for 32 games before returning to the starting lineup and averaging 15.1 points after playing at the All-Star Rising Stars Challenge. Heralded for his passing, Russell did more with his shot this season, becoming the youngest player to ever hit 130 3-pointers in a season, while leading his team in 3-point percentage (35.1). On the other end, the 20-year-old led all rookies, and the Lakers, with 1.2 steals per game. During Mitch Kupchak's exit interview, the Lakers General Manager said that one of the team's big decisions this offseason is to decide whether to develop Russell as more of a scorer or passer.

In His Own Words
"I definitely want to stay in the weight room as much as possible. Guys are strong in this league, especially at my position. You've got guys that are smaller but stronger, faster. So I'm trying to improve that and stay in the post; trying to develop a better post game, using it to my advantage as a bigger guard."

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2016 Player Capsule: D'Angelo Russell

By the Numbers0: Appearances by Nick Young in the Lakers' last 17 games, due to coach's decision, injuries and off-the-court reasons.2: Starts made by Young, who struggled in both, shooting just 1-of-14 combined.22: Season-high points scored against Indiana on Nov. 29, when he hit six 3-pointers.

Season Summary
It was a rough year for Young, who averaged career-lows in scoring (7.3), field goal percentage (33.9) and 3-point percentage (32.5). His clip from the field dropped even further to 27.1 percent after the All-Star Break, and his season ended prematurely due to a variety of circumstances, which included an incident with teammate D'Angelo Russell. Young played his final game of the year on March 8, then sat the final month.

In His Own Words
"There were a lot of distractions this year; a lot of things going on. You could put that (season) on it, but it's behind me now. The season's over with. I've just got to keep going forward."