Year in and year out, the Lakers are in the thick of a championship race. After all, this is a team that hit "rock bottom" because they fell in sequence to the eventual NBA champion Dallas Mavericks in 2011. As disappointing a display as that was, the fact that such an exit was unacceptable is a true testament to the model franchise that is Los Angeles.
Why are we compelled to watch the Lakers on a daily basis? Is it the flair that comes with playing in a big market? Is it the smorgasbord of stars that have traipsed their way in and out of Tinseltown? Are we just naturally drawn to the shiny gold jerseys?
While each of the former may play a part in heightening the intrigue Los Angeles has to offer, the fact is we want to watch this team—even if we're not Lakers fans—because every season, without fail, this is an entity worth watching.
And that's something plenty of other organizations should take notice of, especially those that boast a perennial franchise cornerstone who draws in the masses and means nearly as much to his team as Kobe Bryant does to the Lakers.
Do you think it's easy to put a well-polished product on the floor year after year? It's not, regardless of how talented your primary foundation may be. Just ask the teams that have wound up bidding adieu to their beloved superstars because they couldn't actualize such a concept.
Mitch Kupchak, though, has managed to keep the Lakers more than relevant for nearly 15 years. He's managed to navigate the mine field that comes with boasting a superstar like Bryant. He's appeased Kobe's ego when necessary and put him in his rightful place when the situation called for it.
Again, do you think that is easy? Not even the Mavericks can attest to how difficult it is. Sure, they've reached the postseason for...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
