NBA Legend Voices Major Health Concerns for Lakers Ahead of Season Opener

Los Angeles Lakers have assembled a super team ahead of the 2021-22 season. However, they have failed to win any of the preseason games they’ve played so far. But the preseason isn’t taken seriously and is mainly used to prepare for the coming season. The Lakers are one of the top contenders for the coming season and not winning the championship would be a failure for such a monstrous roster.

The Lakers signed many top players during the off-season and now have a roster that has really good depth. However, this is not the first time the Lakers have had such a massive roster. During the 2003-04 season, they had their own super team of that time. Coached by the legendary Phil Jackson, the 2003-04 Lakers roster boasted some of the best players of all time.

May 23, 2021; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James reacts after suffering an injury against the Phoenix Suns in the second half during game one in the first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs at Phoenix Suns Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Fast forward to 2021, the Lakers have a super team again and they are getting compared to the 2003-04 roster. A former NBA great has now weighed in on this debate and raised health concerns for the current roster.

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Reggie Miller opens up on Los Angeles Lakers health concerns

Former Indiana Pacers star Reggie Miller recently gave his opinion on the ongoing comparison between the current Lakers roster and the 2003-04 roster. Reggie told Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson that the comparisons between these two teams are not fair.

“It’s not a fair comparison,” Miller told Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson.

The 2003-04 Lakers team reached the NBA Finals. However, they lost 4-1 to the Detroit Pistons in the Finals. Miller then went on to add that the 2003-04 Lakers roster was built for the finals. He also raised some health concerns for the current Lakers roster.

“The Lakers, in my opinion, were built for the playoffs,” Miller added.

“The big question will be can they survive the playoffs healthy at home.”

Lakers have a good roster and aren’t comparable to 03-04 Lakers team Reggie Miller tells me. “It’s not a fair comparison.”

“The Lakers in my opinion were built for the playoffs.

“The big question will be can they survive the playoffs healthy at home.”

— Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson (@ScoopB) October 15, 2021

The 2003-04 Lakers roster had their big four: Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Gary Payton, and Karl Malone. However, apart from Payton, three of the big four struggled that season due to injuries. Despite that, the Lakers ended their regular season as second seeds and managed to reach the Finals.

The current Lakers roster has a big three when compared to the 2003-04 team. LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook form the trio on which the team will be built around. However, last season, the Lakers struggled due to injuries and crashed out of the playoffs in the first round itself. Therefore, if the team wants to succeed this season, they would need everyone to be healthy during the regular season. So, it’ll be interesting to see if the current Lakers roster manages to better the performance of the 2003-04 team.

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