LeBron, AD Staying in LA: Can They Repeat?

The best duo in the last National Basketball Association (NBA) is staying in Los Angeles for the next two years, to say the least. 

After leading the Los Angeles Lakers to the team's first NBA championship in a decade inside the Orlando bubble, LeBron James and Anthony Davis are looking to not just repeat but to build a dynasty as LeBron James signed an 85 million Dollar deal that would keep him in LA for the next two seasons while Anthony Davis signed a five-year deal that would earn him 190 million Dollars. 

LeBron James is coming off a 17th majestic season where he was named into the All-NBA First Team for the 13th time in his career. He averaged 25 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds in 67 regular-season games while averaging 27 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists in the 2020 playoffs en route to wrapping things up with his fourth NBA championship and fourth NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. He also finished as a runner-up in the MVP race.

Anthony Davis' first season in Los Angeles was proof that the Lakers did the right thing in trading for the big man. In 62 regular-season games, Davis normed 26 points, nine rebounds, two blocks while shooting 33% from the three-point line. In his first postseason with the Lakers, Davis put up 27 points and nine rebounds per game. 

The decision of both James and Davis to stay put in Los  Angeles adds up to what has become a busy offseason for the team. They may have lost a few pieces from last season's run but also gained new players too. 

Can they repeat as champions?

Now that the drama surrounding the future of their dynamic duo, the defending champions can now focus on building up chemistry with this reloaded squad as chemistry played an integral part in their championship run in Orlando. It played a vital role in how they were able to reclaim the top seed in the Western Conference.  While many feel that this current Lakers team is already better than the team last season, at least on paper, nothing is assured yet. 

They will be among the top teams in the West next season. That's a given considering the talent that they have. They will definitely be a playoff-bound team and poised for another run to the NBA Finals. Back-to-back championships? It depends on two things.

If LeBron James still has gas left in his tank for year 18. 

If Anthony Davis can stay away from injuries. 

If both equalizes to a yes, then the Lakers could finally overtake the Boston Celtics for the total number of championships won as a franchise.  

Photo is from CBS Sports