The Boston Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks in five games during the 2024 NBA Finals, securing their 18th franchise title and surpassing the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers had previously tied the Celtics with their 2020 NBA Championship win in The Bubble, but now trail their rivals once more. Los
Angeles faces an increasingly challenging road back to the Finals, with numerous strong contenders in the Western Conference.
Worsening the situation, the Lakers are now searching for players similar to those on their 2019-20 roster to regain their former success. That team excelled both on and off the court, showcasing natural chemistry and complementary skills alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Although Los Angeles likely regrets disbanding their championship team, some of its former players are reuniting. Dwight Howard, DeMarcus Cousins, and Quinn Cook are set to team up in the upcoming Asian Tournament, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Howard previously announced his ownership stake in the Asian league, making him the first player to own part of the league he is playing in. He also expressed a desire for other former NBA players to join him in Taiwan, a wish that is coming true as his former teammates are set to join him in their quest for a championship.
This is an unprecedented event in the basketball world, with three NBA players teaming up in this way. Howard has been determined to expand basketball’s presence in places like Taiwan. With Howard, Cousins, and Cook on the same team, the Taiwan Mustangs are now favorites to win it all.
As the Lakers near free agency, they’ve been connected to several of their former players through trades or free agency. This highlights that Los Angeles always had the right elements to win a title, supporting Dwight Howard’s belief that they could have potentially achieved a three-peat if their group had stayed together.
