LeBron James has been the focal point of the Los Angeles Lakers for years. He led the team to the NBA title in 2020, and his impact on the Lakers may be similar to that of legends like Magic Johnson. A former player of the franchise recently compared the two and shared a surprising perspective on how superstars like them can affect the growth of younger teammates.
“Being on the team with Magic… When he came back after announcing he had HIV, we were still a good team—a playoff team,” George Lynch recalled in a recent interview on the Run Your Race podcast. “But with Magic Johnson back, nobody else could really get better.”
Lynch, who played for the Lakers from 1993 to 1996, further elaborated on the difficulties some of his teammates faced while playing alongside Johnson. “Nick Van Exel was on the rise, but he couldn’t grow the way he should have. Out of respect, everybody deferred to Magic,” he explained.
The former forward then drew a parallel to the current Lakers team, particularly in relation to their young players. “I think it’s the same thing with this Lakers team right now. Austin Reaves, the kid from Gonzaga (Rui Hachimura). They’re not going to get better until LeBron leaves because they’re always going to defer to him,” Lynch said. “They’re not going to step into their own because you respect greatness so much. You have to.”
Magic Johnson playing with the Los Angeles Lakers.
While Lynch acknowledged the impact of the superstars, he clarified that his comments were not a criticism of James’ on-court performance. “I’m not saying LeBron is on the decline—because he’s still doing it. But those young guys? They’re not going to step into their own until they have to.”
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How have Reaves, Hachimura fared?
Despite a 2024-25 NBA season that has seen its ups and downs, the Lakers have found solutions not just through the contributions of LeBron James—and more recently Luka Doncic—but also from other players on the roster.
Austin Reaves has enjoyed a career year, averaging 18.8 points per game, surpassing his previous best of 15.9 points in the 2023-24 season. He has also been an integral part of the team, having played 56 of the Lakers’ 63 games this season.
Rui Hachimura has also stepped up, playing 50 games and averaging 32.1 minutes per game. Though his scoring average is almost identical to last season (currently at 13.3 points, compared to 13.6 last year), his role on the team remains important as he continues to contribute significantly.
