LeBron James’ Los Angeles Lakers team has showcased various efforts to build a championship-caliber roster this offseason following their disappointing end to last season. After missing the opportunity to add Klay Thompson despite LeBron James’ trial, they also fell short of bringing Paul George. Amid this situation, some ex-Lakers players opened up, sharing their frustration over the team’s treatment with them.
Former Lakers star Dwight Howard recently discussed his feelings on the “Above The Rim” podcast, where he was joined by former teammates DeMarcus Cousins and Quinn Cook. Howard reflected on the 2020 Lakers team while expressing his disappointment about the changes.
“We [the 2020 Lakers] were the best team. The only thing I’m mad about is they didn’t keep all of us together,” Howard said.
DeMarcus Cousins then joined Howard, sharing the strong team dynamics the former LA stars’ had.
“Our team chemistry was through the roof. We had so much fun together,” Cousins said.
The success of the 2019-20 Los Angeles Lakers has been a topic of debate, as they clinched the NBA championship in the Orlando bubble—a neutral site with no fans—due to COVID-19 restrictions.
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What Happened After 2020 Championship Win?
Dwight Howard last suited up for the LA Lakers during the 2021-22 season. Since then, he has not returned to the NBA with any other team, and the Lakers have shown no interest in bringing him back.
In the case of DeMarcus Cousins, he faced a significant setback shortly after joining the Lakers. Just a month into his contract, Cousins tore his ACL during a pickup game while preparing for the season. The Lakers provided him with a $1.75 million disabled player exception but released him in late February.
Quinn Cook’s situation was particularly surprising. Despite helping the Lakers win their first NBA championship in a decade, the team inadvertently let his contract expire and did not renew their association with him.
