Last season, the Lakers were a struggling young team with a number of talented but inexperienced players. A roster overhaul in the offseason, however, led by the signing of LeBron James, will see a new look outfit take the court in 2018/19. Check out the full roster and NBA Live 19 player ratings below.
Lonzo Ball, PG, 82
Age: 20
Position: PG
Height: 6’6’’
Playstyle: Floor General
Best stats: 90 Defensive Awareness, 89 Passing, 88 Speed
Ball’s rookie season was marred by negativity, largely related to his unorthodox jump shot, but in reality his first year in the NBA was an impressive one. Though he doesn't project as a volume scorer, his 10.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.7 steals per game were great numbers for a first season player, and reflected both his elite passing and defensive abilities. Playing alongside one of the best passers of all time in LeBron this season, expect his numbers to take a dip but his understanding of the game to improve significantly.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG, 79
Age: 25
Position: SG
Height: 6’5’’
Playstyle: Slasher
Best stats: 93 Stamina, 87 On Ball Defense, 85 Speed
Caldwell-Pope is a useful player in the modern day NBA, playing high level defense at one end of the floor and providing a constant perimeter threat at the other. Last season, he knocked down 38.3% of 3-point attempts, a career high, while putting up 13.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.4 steals a night. Though listed as a starter in NBA Live 19, it wouldn't be surprising to see him pushed to the bench to accommodate for the likes of Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart in the starting lineup.
LeBron James, SF, 97
Age: 34
Position: SF
Height: 6’8’’
Playstyle: Playmaker
Best stats: 99 Contested Shot, 99 Inside Shot, 99 Court Vision, 99 Driving Layup, 99 Defensive Awareness, 99 Draw Shooting Foul, 99 Stamina
The best player in the world is now a Laker, and coming off a year which was as good as any in his career, will be hoping to lead his young side into the playoffs. Last season, he averaged similar numbers to what he has put up for the past 15 years - 27.5 points on 54.2% shooting, 8.6 boards, 9.1 assists and 1.9 steals per night. More impressive than his raw numbers, however, was his ability to carry an otherwise very mediocre Cavaliers side to the NBA Finals. With a far better supporting cast this season, it will be interesting to see how far he can take the Lakers.
Kyle Kuzma, PF, 81
Age: 23
Position: PF
Height: 6'9"
Playstyle: Stretch Big
Best Stats: 89 Stamina, 86 Inside Shot, 85 Driving Layup
After being drafted at pick 27 in the 2017 draft, Kuzma had an impressive rookie season. In 77 games, he played an average of 31.2 minutes and put up 16.1 points (while shooting 45% from the field and 36.6% from long range), 6.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists. Expect him to play a significant role for the team in 2018/19.
JaVale McGee, C, 78
Age: 30
Position: C
Height: 7’0’’
Playstyle: Rim Protector
Best stats: 95 Dunk, 87 Vertical, 86 Shot Block
After earning himself a couple of rings on the back of four All-Star teammates in Oakland, McGee moved to the Lakers in the 2018 offseason. In fairness, the most regular contributor to Shaqtin’ a Fool played a reasonable role for his old side last season, coming alive in the Playoffs to put in some important minutes. Though he is a better athlete than basketballer, McGee can certainly provide value to the right team - particularly one with elite playmakers like this one - and is renowned for his positive locker room presence.
NBA Live 19: Los Angeles Lakers Roster
Name | OVR | Position | Height | Playstyle | Best Stats |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
LeBron James | 97 | SF | 6'8" | Playmaker | 99 Court Vision, 99 Inside Shot |
Brandon Ingram | 82 | SF | 6'9" | Wing Scorer | 90 Stamina, 86 Inside Shot |
Lonzo Ball | 82 | PG | 6'6" | Floor General | 90 Defensive Awareness, 89 Passing |
Kyle Kuzma | 81 | PF | 6'9" | Stretch Big | 89 Stamina, 86 Inside Shot |
Rajon Rondo | 80 | PG | 6'1" | Backcourt Defender | 90 Passing, 90 Court Vision |
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope | 79 | SG | 6'5" | Slasher | 93 Stamina, 87 On Ball Defense |
Michael Beasley | 78 | PF | 6'10" | Stretch Big | 83 Inside Shot, 81 Mid-Range Shot |
JaVale McGee | 78 | C | 7'0" | Rim Protector | 95 Dunk, 87 Vertical |
Josh Hart | 78 | SG | 6'5" | Wing Scorer | 85 Stamina, 83 Speed |
Lance Stephenson | 77 | SG | 6'6" | Slasher | 84 Dribbling, 83 Driving Layup |
Playbooks
Find out all the plays you can run through this talented Lakers offense with their full list of plays below.
Play Name | Play Type |
---|---|
PG Pistol | Pick and Roll |
PG 5 Out Slice Angle | Pick and Roll |
PG Horns Al High | Pick and Roll |
PG Fist Down | Pick and Roll |
PG Horns Slot | Pick and Roll |
PG Spain | Pick and Roll |
PG Drag | Pick and Roll |
PG 14 Low High | Pick and Roll |
PG 41 Weak Angle | Pick and Roll |
PG 41 High Angle | Pick and Roll |