Hidden Gems: Los Angeles Lakers

Squad Goals Crafting Challenges are here. Each Crafting Challenge gives you the ability to earn new Rare Moments for each of the NBA’s 30 teams by burning existing Moments. New to NBA Top Shot? Create your account today to collect your first pack of curated, officially licensed NBA highlights, and browse the Marketplace to find your favorites.

The LA faithful are glad to go back in time with all those titles in the bag. Lakers fans, Top Shot has Moments in the Run It Back and Archive Sets from ‘06 and beyond.

The Squad Goals Set, which makes up the Challenge Rewards for our current NBA Crafting Challenges, is a Top Shot homage to teamwork. Hall of Famers making the easy play. Rookie sensations sprinting for steals. Journeymen teaching X’s and O’s. Bench mobs celebrating in full force.

In the process of these Challenges taking place, thousands of Moments will be burned – permanently – by members of the Top Shot community, unlocking unique Challenge Rewards.

This action will reduce the supply of collectibles in the Marketplace, effectively making those editions more scarce.

As each Squad Goals Crafting Challenge goes live, we'll be shining a spotlight on a handful of Moments from each NBA team that you might have overlooked. Underrated and underestimated players and Moments that are special in their own way, from monster performances to scarce and significant highlights in a player's career. Hidden gems across all Series.

Cue the bright lights! LA’s icons are taking the stage. The Lakers Squad Goals Challenge is live, featuring a LeBron James Moment including three of the NBA’s 75 greatest players in the mix. Boosted by some extra hustle on the defensive end, James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook spark a transition opportunity, ending in a smooth touch pass for the slam. The Purple & Gold were rockin’ on this.

In “The Bubble,” the Lakers captured championship glory, but what about this year? See if the talent in these underappreciated Moments can help LA return to The Finals.

ANTHONY DAVIS (SERIES 1)

When healthy, Anthony Davis has the upside of a Top-5 player in the NBA.

Outside of his rookie campaign and last season’s struggle to stay on the court – he played only 40 games – he’s made an All-Star appearance every year.

A 3-time blocks leader and 4-time All-Defensive star, Davis is an extraordinary force at the rim. His mobility is practically unmatched for his size, as he’s able to track smaller players on the perimeter and make up ground to contest shots near the paint.

At his best, Davis can stretch the floor offensively. With a high release, his pick-and-pop shots are difficult to deter. He’s proven he can knock down 3-pointers at a 33% rate on 3.5 attempts a game, but consistency in that area will go a long way.

It’s not fun competing against Davis inside either.

He showed that in the 2020 postseason, when he overpowered the Miami Heat in this The Finals (Series 1) Rare Moment, featuring AD’s Championship Badge, available now in the Marketplace. He was an offensive rebounding machine, and took control of Game 1 in the series with 34 points and 9 rebounds.

The offseason method for Davis? Rest. Recovery. Redemption.

He still has the talent to co-lead LA to another ‘ship.

LEBRON JAMES (SERIES 2)

Make way for The King.

LeBron James is the face of this Challenge, and has been a face of the league for nearly two decades.

There’s not much to say about James that you don’t already know. He’s one of the greatest to ever do it. His accomplishments speak for themselves.

18 All-NBA and All-Star bids.

6 All-Defense nominations.

4 championships, Finals MVPs and regular season MVPs.

We’re coming up on Year 20, and he’s still dominating as a scorer. Last season, his 30.3 PPG was his highest average since 2005-06, when he posted a career-high 31.4 PPG. Three seasons ago, he led the league in assists for the first time.

How his game continues to develop is beyond comprehension, but he does it nonetheless.

More proof is in his 3-point shooting. That was on display in this Metallic Gold LE (Series 2) Rare Moment, when he “was literally seeing 3 rims out there, and just shot at the middle one” to lead the Lakers to victory over the Warriors in the 2021 Play-In Tournament.

Will the kid from Akron collect title No. 5 this year?

AUSTIN REAVES (SERIES 3)

Austin Reaves is a Laker darling due to his underdog backstory.

He burst onto the scene as an undrafted prospect, and impressed the LA staff enough to earn a converted, guaranteed contract for the rest of his rookie season.

His strongest feature, to date, is his craftiness and basketball IQ. He drew comparisons to Alex Caruso, filling the void of the do-it-all guard now in Chicago.

Impressively, Reaves led the Lakers in plus/minus (+0.9) for the 2021-22 season.

He also provided Lakers fans with a handful of thrilling moments, including a buzzer-beater against the Mavericks and his first triple-double in the finale against the Nuggets.

This Base Set (Series 3) Common Moment is his Top Shot Debut and is the only Reaves collectible available in the Marketplace.

Hop on the Reaves bandwagon today before all spots are filled.

New to NBA Top Shot? Create your account today to collect your first pack of curated, officially licensed NBA highlights.

LAST UPDATED ON

Aug 8, 2022 7:26 AM

Hidden Gems: Los Angeles Lakers

ANTHONY DAVIS (SERIES 1)

LEBRON JAMES (SERIES 2)

AUSTIN REAVES (SERIES 3)

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