The NBA pre-season is finally underway, and it began with the Battle of LA between the Lakers and Clippers. The purple and gold recorded their first win of the pre-season, and that too while their superstars, LeBron James and Anthony Davis, rested.

In the absence of the two, it was a young gun who gave went all-out in the matchup. 20-year-old Talen Horton-Tucker helped the Lakers win the game by scoring 19 points, grabbing 9 boards, and dishing out the ball 4 times.

Tucker’s contributions were enough for the Lakers to clinch the game. They came out on top over their neighbors in a 87-81 victory in the pre-season game.

LeBron James on Talen Horton-Tucker

Following this performance, Tucker heaped huge praise from his teammate LeBron James. James said, “Telling you right now! This kid is flat out SPECIAL! Mark my words.”

If Tucker can keep up this level, he might get a place in the team’s rotation when the season begins. Considering now that their leader and best player, LBJ, counts on him, it will bring its own pressure.

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However, if he can develop into a consistent and more efficient score, the Lakers might have found a gem. Can he live up to to the King’s expectations? We will find out soon.

Are the Los Angeles Lakers in the perfect position to win it all?

The NBA season begins on December 22, and the rosters for each time are set. It will all come down to how well the teams mesh together in this season. The Lakers in particular have gone some major changes in their roster.

They have added many new pieces on the roster to bolster their chances of winning back-to-back NBA titles. While LBJ and AD are still the top two players for the team, the supporting cast has changed.

But can this new Lakers team repeat the last season’s success? Well, there is only one way to find out, and that is when they enter the basketball floor. But if the pre-season is any indication, the Lakers look in a perfect position to repeat.

What are your thoughts? Who do you think will win the 2021 NBA Championship?