Dwyane Wade applauds LeBron and Davis but doubts the Lakers’ title chances, focusing on the potential LeBron-Bronny duo.

Dwyane Wade, former NBA star and close friend of LeBron James, offered a candid take on the current state of the Los Angeles Lakers during an episode of his podcast. Wade expressed that while fans enjoy seeing the individual brilliance of players like LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the team’s championship aspirations are, in his view, far from realistic this season.

“When I look at the Lakers, I want Anthony Davis to have MVP type year, as a fan I would love to see LeBron continue to play at the level he want to play at and I actually want to see him and Bronny do their thing.” 

“Honestly bring Bronny up like we want to see that. I think Paul Pierce said recently like I want to see Bron and Bronny like a lob. I tune in to the Lakers to see that this season.”

“As a fan of the game, I’m not looking at the Lakers saying they’re going to win a championship.”

“The habits that are being built, to build the culture of what JJ is setting forward in that coaching style but like we want to see Bronny like this is not a championship team, it’s not a championship roster as this point.”

“Now the Lakers are always in the place to be able to make a move because it’s the Lakers. It’s certain teams always saying that maybe they can. The Lakers can make a move we’ve seen it before but right now um it’s not a championship roster overall.”

Despite his admiration for the stars, Wade quickly pivoted to what many fans are anticipating this season: the regular featuring of LeBron’s son, Bronny James, on the Lakers roster. Wade emphasized that, from a fan’s perspective, the idea of LeBron and Bronny playing together is a major draw. However, he was equally clear in stating that he does not view the Lakers as legitimate championship contenders in their current state.

The Lakers, currently seventh in the Western Conference with a 15-12 record, have had a season characterized by inconsistency. While LeBron James continues to defy Father Time with stellar performances and Anthony Davis has shown flashes of dominance, the supporting cast has been inconsistent. Role players such as D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, and Austin Reaves have not consistently delivered the kind of performances needed to elevate the team to championship contention.

The Lakers have long been a team capable of making big moves, and Wade acknowledged that this reputation could lead to a mid-season trade to bolster the roster. However, as things stand, Wade sees the Lakers as more of a spectacle for fans to enjoy individual performances and the potential father-son duo rather than a true championship contender.

Ultimately, Wade’s comments reflect a broader sentiment among fans: the Lakers remain a work in progress, and while they may have the star power to keep fans entertained, their current roster is not built for a deep playoff run.