The 2010s: Kobe Bryant leads the Lakers’ team of an unfamiliar decade – The Athletic

It started with Kobe Bryant hoisting his fifth championship trophy, and it ends with LeBron James leading the Lakers back into contention. At least the bookends have been enjoyable for the Lakers.

When it comes to picking the all-decade team for the storied franchise, there is a temptation to just list the five players who carried the Lakers to title No. 16 in seven games over Boston. In 10 years, things have never been so good for the Lakers as they were that June 2010. That, however, would undermine the complex work that was done over the course of a mostly lost decade of strain and frustration the signings and trades that backfired, the long-awaited draft picks turned into young stars who were traded before they could reach their potential.

This was not a decade like the 60s, where the Lakers dominated but just came up painfully short. Or the 70s, when they finally broke through. Or the 80s, when they dominated. Or the 90s, when they patiently waited. Or the...

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The 2010s: Kobe Bryant leads the Lakers' team of an unfamiliar decade - The Athletic