The Los Angeles Lakers rebounded from a disappointing 2021-22 season in a big way, even if it took them some time to find a groove. The Lakers started slow — they were 13-20 on Christmas and five games under .500 heading into the All-Star break before posting a 16-7 record in the second half and securing the seventh seed in the West after defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves in the play-in tournament. The highlight of the season was LeBron James becoming the NBA’s all-time leading scorer on February 7, concluding the year with 38,652 career points. For the 19th consecutive season, the King earned All-Star and All-NBA selections, including his second straight Third Team honor after averaging 28.9 points across 55 games while winning his NBA-record 40th and 41st playoff series. Anthony Davis provided support by averaging 25.9 points and a career-high 12.5 rebounds while shooting a personal-best 56.3 percent from the field. D’Angelo Russell returned to the team that drafted him in a midseason trade and averaged 17.4 points while shooting better than 41 percent from downtown. Austin Reaves averaged 13.0 points in his second season, a number that jumped to almost 17 points in 16 playoff games. The Lakers ranked sixth in points per game and dispatched the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors in the playoffs to become the first seventh seed to reach the conference finals since 1987 before bowing out to the eventual champion Denver Nuggets.

Los Angeles Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers season rewind summarizes 2022-23 season

LeBron James continued to add to his iconic resume during the 2022-23 season, most notably becoming the NBA’s all-time leading scorer on February 7 to break a record that had stood since 1984. He also moved up the all-time assists list, ending the season ranked fourth. For the 19th consecutive season The King earned All-Star and All-NBA selections, including his second straight Third Team honor after averaging 28.9 points across 55 games for the Los Angeles Lakers. James logged five 40-point games and became just the second player in league history to post back-to-back 40-point efforts at age 38 or older. His season-high 48 points on January 16 marked the 100th 40-point game of James’ career, which includes at least one against every team in the league. James also posted two triple-doubles and is the only NBA player to record one in his 20th season, ending the year with 107 career triple-doubles, tied for fourth all-time. James and the Lakers returned to the postseason after a one-year absence, advancing to the Western Conference Finals as a No. 7 seed. He won his NBA-record 41st playoff series as the Lakers eliminated the defending-champion Golden State Warriors in six semifinal games. 

LeBron James

LeBron James remix celebrates 2022-23 All-NBA season

Of all his many accomplishments on a basketball court, LeBron James had never started a postseason game this hot. The 20-year veteran wasted no time in getting to work against the Denver Nuggets in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals, scoring on an array of layups, fadeaways and 3-pointers as he did everything in his power to stave off a series sweep. James shot 11 for 13 from the field and 4 for 4 behind the arc as he poured in 31 first-half points, his highest-scoring postseason half in a career spanning 282 games. The 19-time All-Star shot 15 of 25 in the game for 40 points while also mixing in 10 rebounds, nine assists, two steals and four treys for the Los Angeles Lakers on May 22, 2023. It was the 29th 40-point playoff game of James’ career — the second most in NBA history. 

LeBron James turns in 31-point half in 2023 Conference Finals performance

Rui Hachimura has looked more and more at home in the playoffs with each passing game. The fourth-year reserve forward unleashed a sizzling start for the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals as he got behind the Denver Nuggets defense and took flight to slam home an alley-oop from LeBron James late in the second quarter. Hachimura made all seven of his shots in the first half, scoring 17 of his 21 points before halftime on May 18, 2023, marking his fourth game of the postseason with 20 or more points. 

Rui Hachimura

Rui Hachimura back cuts for lob in efficient 2023 Conference Finals half

The Los Angeles Lakers kept tradition intact with their Icon and Association jerseys, the timeless gold fit that is inarguably one of the most iconic in the history of professional sports. The white Association jersey, a primary fixture for the past five seasons, has been used in one shape or form for the better part of two decades. With their Statement Edition jersey, the team embraces the purple long associated with the franchise, pairing it with a novel black stripe down the sides representative of the famously dark seating beyond the boundaries of the court. The franchise’s City Edition uniform is intentionally simplistic with the city name featured on an otherwise blank canvas, while its Classic Edition kit pays homage to the first jersey the time-tested organization rocked back in 1948 prior to its relocation to the west coast. 

Los Angeles Lakers honor Minneapolis origins in 2022-23 jersey rotation

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