Lakers to defend NBA Cup against intriguing group of star-studded teams

The 2023 calendar year consisted of promising displays from the Los Angeles Lakers. Starting with a trip to the Western Conference Finals and ending with Los Angeles winning the first-ever NBA Cup, the Lakers looked the part of true championship contenders.

As the 2024-25 season approaches and the Lakers search for ways to return to those winning ways, the second annual NBA Cup is coming into focus.

The In-Season Tournament will offer Los Angeles an early opportunity to evaluate its roster and determine how close it is to contending. With a new head coach and an Olympic gold medal proving Anthony Davis and LeBron James are still superstars of the highest order, the odds may be stronger in the Lakers’ favor than they seem.

The first test of the validity of the Lakers’ championship ambitions will commence on November 15, when they begin the defense of the NBA Cup against the San Antonio Spurs.

Ready for the NBA Cup?! pic.twitter.com/7ewIff7tjS

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) August 13, 2024

The clash between Davis and reigning Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama will be the beginning of an extraordinary slate of battles between the Lakers and teams with star-caliber franchise players.

After taking on Wembanyama and the Spurs, the Lakers will square off against All-Star forward Lauri Markkanen and the Utah Jazz. There’s no rest for the wicked, as a clash with 2024 Olympic gold medalists Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and the Phoenix Suns will soon follow.

Closing out group play against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder will provide the Lakers with a chance to prove themselves against the 2023-24 No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.

It’s a tough slate for Los Angeles, which will be tested early and often by some of the best players in the NBA. In addition to Wembanyama, the Spurs have a promising young core of players that now includes a veteran leader in 11-time All-NBA honoree Chris Paul.

Utah, meanwhile, has complemented Markkanen with a high-level scorer in Collin Sexton, who averaged 25.3 points per 36 minutes in 2023-24.

Los Angeles and Phoenix will rekindle their rivalry with no shortage of stars on the court. Bradley Beal will team with Booker and Durant, as well as high-level role players such as Grayson Allen and Tyus Jones, to try and take Davis, James, and the Lakers down before they can advance.

The game against the Thunder could be the most significant of the 2024-25 season up to that point, as it serves as a true litmus test for Los Angeles as a contender.

The Thunder won 57 games in 2023-24 and have now added highly-touted free agent center Isaiah Hartenstein to the roster. In addition to Gilgeous-Alexander and Hartenstein, Oklahoma City has a core that includes Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, and former Lakers standout Alex Caruso.

The NBA Cup is here to stay, and the Lakers will look to win a second consecutive tournament en route to a resurgent season in 2024-25.