Lakers Legend Has Delusional Take on Former Team for 2024-25 Season

Michael Cooper should know better. He’s a five-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers and knows what it takes to win a ring. He played a key role alongside NBA legends Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson. Known for his tenacious defense, Cooper was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.Like many NBA veterans, Cooper still has plenty of allegiance to the Lakers. He’s remains a fan of the purple and gold. Cooper was an intelligent basketball player. Despite his high hoop IQ, the legendary LA guard made an absurd prediction regarding the 2004-25 Lakers squad.Having hope for your team is one thing, but Cooper’s hope for LA having a successful 2024-25 season hits the delusional state.After getting bounced by the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs in 2024, the Lakers didn’t do anything to improve for the 2024-25 season. In fact, they fired their coach and replaced him with J.J. Redick, who has no previous head coaching experience.Seven teams in the Western Conference finished ahead of the Lakers in 2024, yet Cooper believes there’s a chance his former team could reach the 2025 NBA Finals.“I still believe, if the cards fall right and the basketball gods shine on us, I think the Lakers can player for a Western Conference championship,” Cooper said on an episode of his podcast “Showtime With Coop.” You have to play for that in order to play for a national championship.”Then he killed his own argument by talking about the strength of the Western Conference and how drafting Bronny James, the son of Lakers star LeBron James, could have an impact.“The West is loaded right now,” Cooper admitted. “But I think the drafting of Bronny, this is a great moment. First time a player has ever had an opportunity to play with his son on an NBA court. Why not it be in LA?“I think LeBron did the right thing. He gave up some money so they could go out and get a marquee player, but Klay Thompson got away, (DeMar DeRozan) got away.”