The biggest question will be answered here in Los Angeles, and while it’s been covered many ways, any list of storylines without it would be laughably incomplete.
For the first time, James will be a veteran on a team whose best-case scenario isn’t an NBA championship. He’ll be asked to mentor younger players, help raise the tide of the team and see who comes with him.
James hasn’t always been the easiest person to play with — the greatest players often aren’t — and the young core of the Lakers — Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma — hasn’t had to deal with a stress like this before.