Instantly, a superteam was built and every NBA fan, media member, player, coach, general manager and owner felt that there was no team in the league who could even compete with this team, much less overtake them.
After all, two players still in their primes, who had combined for an average of 57.5 points per game in the previous season, were joined by two definite future Hall of Famers who had combined for 41 points per game in the previous season.
How could a team like this be dethroned?
Well, they were dethroned, and pretty convincingly as well. A combination of on-court and off-court issues led to the eventual downfall of this mega-team.
Now, nine years later, the Lakers have assembled another mega-team!
Four superstars and future Hall of Famers will get together when training camp begins in an effort to bring the big, gold trophy back to Los Angeles.
The similarities between the two teams are aplenty.
First off, the ages of the four superstars who will lead this year's Lakers are very similar to the ages of the four superstars who led the 2003-04 Lakers. Entering that season, the young stud of the team, Bryant, was 25 years old. O'Neal, the big man in the middle, was 31 years old. the floor general of the 2003-04 Lakers, Payton, entered the season at the age of 35. Finally, Malone, the elder statesman of this team, had recently turned 40.
Similarly, Dwight Howard will enter this year's training camp as the youngest member out of the four former All-Stars at the young age of 26. Pau Gasol will be 32 when this upcoming season begins. Bryant will have celebrated his 34th birthday when the Lakers ge...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
