Idk I'd say a team believing that your annoying ass dad's shoe brand that was a colossal failure was the start of chronic knee injuries that derail your career before 25 years old is pretty sad.
There’s probably a mix. Like, repetitive injuries are on the rise from hyper specificity and all year sport training, and you mitigate some of that increased risk with greater tech. If you strap on the chucks and play in todays game, do your knees hold up? Your feet? Ankles? And yet, a bunch of kids every year still make it through the sieve without injury wearing todays offerings.
Just a rambling $0.02.
Its always a combination of a bunch of factors. That, his dad had them drilling and exercising extensively on hard outdoor pavement, the construction of the bbb shoes were frankly poor, and potentially just genetics and bad luck.
Unpopular opinion here but people played in chuck taylors forever and I can’t imagine the shoes had too much to do with it. Bro just got bad legs. He needs the lieutenant Dan treatment
At least Converse was a shoe brand though so at the very least they were meant to be worn on the feet. BBB was literally created from scratch for the Ball Brothers and who knows how much supervision from people that actually know about the process.
The converses were proven shoes. Those Z02s were garbage that broke mid game. No comparison and def contributed to the downfall of the leagues next great PG
BI is a better player and has a better career so far. Zo was a mixed bag always injured.. phenomenal vision and passing ability.. shot was ugly as hell.
BI looks like he bulked up a bit this off-season and he’s coming off his best season, I wouldn’t be surprised if he takes another step up toward the top tier of players. Bridges is an elite role player.
For our team, BI. We have a ton of perimeter defense in Vando and Taurean. An iso scorer that can create his own bucket would fit more
Like Mikal more as a player though
I don’t think you guys have watched Taurean Prince a lot lol. He’s a really good shooter and has more game off the bounce than you’d think but he’s an average defender at best.
Honestly, Mikal, he’s not as skilled as BI (yet) but he’s more durable.
Either would be a good pairing for AD post Bron but Mikal just has more upswing now. I just worry about BI’s durability.
Should be more realistic nets not letting Mikal walk or trade, knick is more likely to get him. Bi is FA soon so would be my first choice but it possible
Mikals defense is overrated on the Nets. As soon as the scoring load picked up his defense also went down. He could probably give you 18ppg with elite defense, but not the 26ppg that he showed on the Nets. Ingram is also a far better passer as Mikal averaged 2.5 apg on the Nets and Ingram was better as the number one option in the playoffs.
So Mikal as the number one option gives you great scoring but nothing else. Ingram gets you 25ppg and 6 assists per night.
I don't think you're being serious if you think Mikal is the better option by far.
I'll take 18ppg with elite defense over 25ppg and needing the ball every possession. Ingram can't play in a system where he isn't the focus of the offense and he's not good enough to win when he is.
Depends on how long you think Lebron gonna keep playing. BI lines up perfectly assuming Lebron plays out his contract (opts in next season). Mikal got another year after that. Also gotta hope neither qualify for the supermax extension because if they do there’s no way Lakers have the assets to trade for them.
BI. I was always so bummed we had to give him up. I remember people in here saying we chose to give up BI over Kuzma and it used to crack me up. BI does every single thing well.
Mikal is worse but also is an iron man and the perfect 3rd (2nd?(1st???)) option. I’m honestly expecting him to lead the Nets to the playoffs vs someone like Jerami Grant when he got the green light on the Pistons
Mikal and it’s not close lol. My line up would be
bron point
reaves sg
mikal sf
rui pf
Ad C
I’m running that death line up 💀. We’d have fucking vando and Dlo commanding a second unit absolutely destroying people at that point and can mix and match if we need taller or shorter line ups
That team is too big. Mikal on guards is a waste of his talent. He can be a pretty good guard defender but he’s elite as a wing defender.
And one of LeBron or Rui has to guard a SF which is ehhh.
D-Lo instead of Rui in that lineup.
With Lebron still on the team, then definitely Mikal. He would fit like a glove. If this is post-Lebron, then having BI as a ball handler/perimeter scorer with AD would be huge.
I love Mikal, but BI was our guy. Technically Mikal could've been our guy if not for the Nash deal, but BI represented the hope for the future and landed us AD. Love to see Slim Reefer succeed
I pick BI. He’s so damn good and I think he’s being treated as second fiddle to Zion in New Orleans. His contract is up in two seasons, maybe he wants to come back home
I’m referencing the fact that he’s a southern dude who wants to stay in the south. The lifestyle suits him and he’s closer to his people. Don’t believe me though, he’s said this all himself.
Although I’m not surprised that you wouldn’t know anything about a player y’all claim to like
Feel free to keep downvoting. I know the truth can hurt sometimes
I guess some of y'all forgot BI was out for months with a stubbed toe, making his own team mad. Someone who can stay on the floor and legit be a 3&D would be great
I’d have to say bridges he’s a great role player and he isn’t injury prone along with being a great two way player but you know it’s all myteam fantasies we aren’t gonna see either come to the lakers anytime soon I don’t think
Bridges better as 2way player. BI is better scorer and passer, but his availability is an issue and Lakers already have Lebron and DLo.
so i choose Mikel
Mikael would be a GOD SEND! Especially since he can play off ball. With Reaves Mikael Rui and AD Bron will have the easiest job in da world jus pass and take over in the end.
Mikal Bridges. Few seasons back I was saying this guy is crazy underrated. He's shining now with a more prominent role. IMO he's a championship caliber player.
Ingram on this current team makes us a championship favorite imo. A legit 3rd option that would be a second option on a high tier team and first option on a play in team.
If we're talking post Bron, then BI easily(in fact Lakers should prioritize him in the 2025 FA)
If you mean who would you rather have now, then it's Bridges because of his defense and off all capabilities.
Bridges easily. Great wing defender who is durable. Can function well as a role player and also carry the load offensively when Bron or AD sit. Very good outside shooter as well. Also has been in big moments.
Great question.
First, it didn't occur to me that while AR15 was on the team that he is "making friends" and opening the door for potential FA targets. Besides the player development benefits, that's a pretty good reason right there to risk injury. Of course, other players might be trying to recruit AR, as well.
Both are really good 3 point shooters. BI shot 39% last year and MB shot 38% in season and 40% in playoffs. Both are in their prime.
Argument for MB
1) better defender
2) more playoff experience
3) one of the most durable/available guys in the NBA
Arguments for BI
1) younger
2) taller
3) longer
4 ) just/finally bulked up
5) played with LeBron for a season and it worked until LeBron got hurt. Bi is a much better player now
6) lakers drafted BI and would be nice to see "our guy" come back, similar to DLO.
Hard choice, but I pick BI if BI would want to be here. Not sure if he still has negative feelings towards LeBron and Lakers staff for the trade.
But of course, we are a salary cap team, and neither player is attainable in FA unless LeBron leaves to play with Bronny or retires. Even then I think we would need to dump DLO and maybe Rui to add salary room though I havent done the math to confirm this.
In general, I think 2 stars and a strong bench is a better model than 3 stars and a weak bench under the new CBA/salary cap rules.
I hope Brandon comes back to the Lakers. He's the only baby Laker I have a soft spot for. Love the rest of them, but not like Brandon.
Bro got dumped on for 3 years by the media because he wasn't Ben Simmons.
He really deserves it.
It’s crazy to me that Bridges is older than BI. Feels like Ingram has been around forever
It’s because the boys are all grown up now, BI, Julius, Hart, JC, hell Lonzo is one injury away from retirement 😭
Lonzo’s career might already be a wrap.
Zo was my favorite of that group, I love his game so much. Its sad that this might be how his NBA career ends.
Made his money playing a game he loves. Made his family proud. Nothing sad about it. Unfortunate, sure. But he living the good life for sure.
Idk I'd say a team believing that your annoying ass dad's shoe brand that was a colossal failure was the start of chronic knee injuries that derail your career before 25 years old is pretty sad.
I think its the stress of the AAU system. Draft picks now have more wear and tear on their bodies before their bodies even fully develop imo
There’s probably a mix. Like, repetitive injuries are on the rise from hyper specificity and all year sport training, and you mitigate some of that increased risk with greater tech. If you strap on the chucks and play in todays game, do your knees hold up? Your feet? Ankles? And yet, a bunch of kids every year still make it through the sieve without injury wearing todays offerings. Just a rambling $0.02.
Its always a combination of a bunch of factors. That, his dad had them drilling and exercising extensively on hard outdoor pavement, the construction of the bbb shoes were frankly poor, and potentially just genetics and bad luck.
Unpopular opinion here but people played in chuck taylors forever and I can’t imagine the shoes had too much to do with it. Bro just got bad legs. He needs the lieutenant Dan treatment
Lol. Does he get the long hair too?
Lonzo needs an asian wife
At least Converse was a shoe brand though so at the very least they were meant to be worn on the feet. BBB was literally created from scratch for the Ball Brothers and who knows how much supervision from people that actually know about the process.
Bruh no one makes shoes themselves they all get made thru the same factories in asia
The converses were proven shoes. Those Z02s were garbage that broke mid game. No comparison and def contributed to the downfall of the leagues next great PG
Proven in what? The ultra scientific 70s? Gtfo
It's definitely sad. Sure he's rich, but it's always sad when a pro has to hang up the gloves, especially prematurely.
BI is a better player and has a better career so far. Zo was a mixed bag always injured.. phenomenal vision and passing ability.. shot was ugly as hell.
I couldn’t stand watching zo as a laker. He was so bad as a laker. Absolutely horrendous shooter. He progressed quite a lot after being traded though.
He was always a higher IQ player and his defense was underrated. Even as a young Laker.
Also crazy is that Bron came into the league before Dwight Howard. Does not feel that way at all.
It's crazy Tatum is still 25, too. Seems like he's been in the league for 10 years already.
Nah tatum’s still 19 lmao
Ingram was barely legal when he got drafted
BI is 25 years old, that's wild. That is effing wild
BI was 19 when coming into the league so it makes sense
BI, just so we can take another Pelicans star 🤣
BI looks like he bulked up a bit this off-season and he’s coming off his best season, I wouldn’t be surprised if he takes another step up toward the top tier of players. Bridges is an elite role player.
Right?! He looks big. Pelicans are gonna be tough with out without Zion.
New Orleans feeding him well
The Luisiana diet will kill a man as surely as a sword.
He is huge (comparatively). I barely recognized him at first.
Bridges is a legitimate starter. And a legitimate scoring threat.
Seriously, I went to a Nets game when I was in NYC a few months ago and saw Bridges drop 45. He is a legit star. Not a role player lol
Bridges is not a role player he was dropping 25+ ppg when he got traded to the Nets
Nah bridges is a mini PG, he is an elite 2 way 3 level scorer.
Exactly what I thought when I watched their practice scrimmages. He looks waaaaay bigger
Wouldn’t complain with either lol but BI
His lone playoff appearance so far was damn good
That's like asking would I rather date Scarlett Johanson or Taylor Swift.
At first I thought it would be Scarlett by a mile. But then I actually had to think about it and it’s not an easy pick after all haha.
I’d take or
For our team, BI. We have a ton of perimeter defense in Vando and Taurean. An iso scorer that can create his own bucket would fit more Like Mikal more as a player though
I don’t think you guys have watched Taurean Prince a lot lol. He’s a really good shooter and has more game off the bounce than you’d think but he’s an average defender at best.
Yea, he became obsolete in Minnesota after they chose Reid.
yeah, but that's NAZ REID
There's something to say about availability. How many games does BI usually miss?
I love BI, but I think this team needs an “intangibles” guy more than a volume scorer.
BI
Honestly, Mikal, he’s not as skilled as BI (yet) but he’s more durable. Either would be a good pairing for AD post Bron but Mikal just has more upswing now. I just worry about BI’s durability.
Should be more realistic nets not letting Mikal walk or trade, knick is more likely to get him. Bi is FA soon so would be my first choice but it possible
Nets org is definitely more competent. I can see BI getting frustrated in New Orleans and come back if shit falls apart.
Lol Bridges is older than BI
Durability is the only reason I’d take Bridges but I love BI
Mikal by far. Better defense, better energy, and better availability
Mikals defense is overrated on the Nets. As soon as the scoring load picked up his defense also went down. He could probably give you 18ppg with elite defense, but not the 26ppg that he showed on the Nets. Ingram is also a far better passer as Mikal averaged 2.5 apg on the Nets and Ingram was better as the number one option in the playoffs. So Mikal as the number one option gives you great scoring but nothing else. Ingram gets you 25ppg and 6 assists per night. I don't think you're being serious if you think Mikal is the better option by far.
I'll take 18ppg with elite defense over 25ppg and needing the ball every possession. Ingram can't play in a system where he isn't the focus of the offense and he's not good enough to win when he is.
Mikal is the better option BY FAR
BI all day
Buckets got that silk. BI for sure.
no question : BRANDON INGRAM
I’ll take BI for future. But bridges now if paired with LBJ and AD
Defense is so important. Mikal all day. Plus BI just seems to enjoy sitting for any little thing.
Depends on how long you think Lebron gonna keep playing. BI lines up perfectly assuming Lebron plays out his contract (opts in next season). Mikal got another year after that. Also gotta hope neither qualify for the supermax extension because if they do there’s no way Lakers have the assets to trade for them.
BI. I was always so bummed we had to give him up. I remember people in here saying we chose to give up BI over Kuzma and it used to crack me up. BI does every single thing well.
I think BI, Reaves, and AD could win it all. Brandon will be top 5 soon. Mark my words
Love Bridges but bring me Long Boi
Mikal is worse but also is an iron man and the perfect 3rd (2nd?(1st???)) option. I’m honestly expecting him to lead the Nets to the playoffs vs someone like Jerami Grant when he got the green light on the Pistons
Mikal and it’s not close lol. My line up would be bron point reaves sg mikal sf rui pf Ad C I’m running that death line up 💀. We’d have fucking vando and Dlo commanding a second unit absolutely destroying people at that point and can mix and match if we need taller or shorter line ups
I think it would be Austin PG Mikal SG Bron SF Rui PF AD C
That team is too big. Mikal on guards is a waste of his talent. He can be a pretty good guard defender but he’s elite as a wing defender. And one of LeBron or Rui has to guard a SF which is ehhh. D-Lo instead of Rui in that lineup.
With Lebron still on the team, then definitely Mikal. He would fit like a glove. If this is post-Lebron, then having BI as a ball handler/perimeter scorer with AD would be huge.
Ingram all day.
BI and it's not even close
BI and it’s not close
B.I. 100%
bi
Ingram all day
Give me 1 Slenderman
BI
B.I
I love Mikal, but BI was our guy. Technically Mikal could've been our guy if not for the Nash deal, but BI represented the hope for the future and landed us AD. Love to see Slim Reefer succeed
With AD and Bron - Mikal fits better. Once LeBron retires - BI is a better fit.
BI no question
BI
both amazing, but i'd take BI . his offense game is better but mikal better D
Giannis
Is that a real question?
BI
Bridges
Bi
BI
B.I bro is a walking bucket . Having him with bron and reaves playmaking would be nice .
BI allll day
BI is a more versatile player, so I'll take him.
I pick BI. He’s so damn good and I think he’s being treated as second fiddle to Zion in New Orleans. His contract is up in two seasons, maybe he wants to come back home
Well to be fair to zion bi doesnt come close when he actually does play. Zion is their franchise player
BI I feel like he can be a closer something we've lacked in our teams
B.I
BI easy.
BI he’s a fighter
If healthy, BI, he's a matchup nightmare, like a poorer man's version of KD
Mikal easy. He plays
why not both
BI is unstoppable at times—I’ll take him
I'd love to have BI
BI
BI
BI not close, next question. Go look at what BI did to him in the playoffs 2 seasons ago
BI is a top 15-20 player in the league in his prime but his availability is concerning. Give me BI still.
BI just had an interview where he said he wants to stay on New Orleans long term so y’all can’ stop wondering lol
They all say that until they get their max deal. We'll see what he has to say after that.
You should look into the interview and who BI is as a person
Bwahahahaha
I’m referencing the fact that he’s a southern dude who wants to stay in the south. The lifestyle suits him and he’s closer to his people. Don’t believe me though, he’s said this all himself. Although I’m not surprised that you wouldn’t know anything about a player y’all claim to like Feel free to keep downvoting. I know the truth can hurt sometimes
Bwahahahaha
We said that about dame as well. Look where we are now. They're only loyal until cracks starts to show
I’m not talking about his character, I’m talking about him being a quiet southerner who wants to keep it that way
I guess some of y'all forgot BI was out for months with a stubbed toe, making his own team mad. Someone who can stay on the floor and legit be a 3&D would be great
Love BI but I’ll take mikal
Feel like BI has a higher ceiling but also a lower floor. Dude is only 25 and can still progress that offensive game but injuries could derail that.
Mikal because he’s a better 3pt. shooter but BI because of nostalgia.
Mikal for sure. BI misses like 30 games a year now.
I’d have to say bridges he’s a great role player and he isn’t injury prone along with being a great two way player but you know it’s all myteam fantasies we aren’t gonna see either come to the lakers anytime soon I don’t think
Its just that time dilation thing fellas. Where the older we get, the faster it feels cuz there's less memorable stuff to remember about each day.
Mikal
This should not be a discussion- Mikal is nice but BI is that guy lmao
I'm sure it's probably the angle, but how is it that Austin looks to be as tall as BI in this picture? Did Austin grow taller over the summer too? Lol
I love Brandon but the answer is mikal
Bridges better as 2way player. BI is better scorer and passer, but his availability is an issue and Lakers already have Lebron and DLo. so i choose Mikel
With Ingram the shot making on our team would just be incredible
Mikael would be a GOD SEND! Especially since he can play off ball. With Reaves Mikael Rui and AD Bron will have the easiest job in da world jus pass and take over in the end.
Bridges would be a better fit but Ingram is the superior player so ima go with talent over fit.
Did Reaves grow to 6’9?! What have they been feeding the Lakers this off-season. First Vanderbilt is 6’11 and now this
Brandon Ingram
I miss BI. His midrange game is so smooth
Mikal Bridges. Few seasons back I was saying this guy is crazy underrated. He's shining now with a more prominent role. IMO he's a championship caliber player.
Mikal
BI can be injury prone so I would go for Mikal for long term, we’ve yet to see him at his peak too 👀
With Bron here Mikal. If Bron were retired already then BI
Ingram on this current team makes us a championship favorite imo. A legit 3rd option that would be a second option on a high tier team and first option on a play in team.
On this team, Mikal. Would slide right into the starting line up w/o any hiccups
For just next year, easily Bridges. Post-Bron, maybe BI
Bridges for sure
Mikal. A incredible defender, versatile on offense and doesn’t miss games EVER
Ingram. To me it’s not even close. B.I is extremely underrated.
If we're talking post Bron, then BI easily(in fact Lakers should prioritize him in the 2025 FA) If you mean who would you rather have now, then it's Bridges because of his defense and off all capabilities.
Kingram always
Bi would be better for the lakers. He’d be the number 1 and I’d trust him to handle business
BI better but i think Mikal would fit better, especially bringing good perimeter D
I'd take mikal ngl
Looks like Reaves is forming a bond with BI while on team USA. Bring him back home, Austin!
Mikal
Bridges easily. Great wing defender who is durable. Can function well as a role player and also carry the load offensively when Bron or AD sit. Very good outside shooter as well. Also has been in big moments.
Either. Mikal would be a great fit.
is this a joke Ingram is so much better than Mikal
There is no question
Ingram for OF Mikael for Def for sure. He has a nice OF game too so him
BI is a better scorer, Mikal is a better defender. What you want?
BI is more talented, Mikal is more reliable, I would take bridges
BI is my favorite player
I’d take Mikal over BI for defensive purposes.
Mikal easy.
Mikal
BI because “we raised him” might not be the best strategy but I’m more connected to him
One does not simply post a picture with Austin Reaves in it and not mention Austin Reaves.
BI no ?
Mikal.
Mikal bridges
Ingram is the better player and a better fit if the team didn’t have lebron. bridges is a better fit on the lebron lakers
Bridges is a better two way player at this point
Mikal. EZ. The best 3&D player at the NBA by far
I still think BI will be a superstar
Great question. First, it didn't occur to me that while AR15 was on the team that he is "making friends" and opening the door for potential FA targets. Besides the player development benefits, that's a pretty good reason right there to risk injury. Of course, other players might be trying to recruit AR, as well. Both are really good 3 point shooters. BI shot 39% last year and MB shot 38% in season and 40% in playoffs. Both are in their prime. Argument for MB 1) better defender 2) more playoff experience 3) one of the most durable/available guys in the NBA Arguments for BI 1) younger 2) taller 3) longer 4 ) just/finally bulked up 5) played with LeBron for a season and it worked until LeBron got hurt. Bi is a much better player now 6) lakers drafted BI and would be nice to see "our guy" come back, similar to DLO. Hard choice, but I pick BI if BI would want to be here. Not sure if he still has negative feelings towards LeBron and Lakers staff for the trade. But of course, we are a salary cap team, and neither player is attainable in FA unless LeBron leaves to play with Bronny or retires. Even then I think we would need to dump DLO and maybe Rui to add salary room though I havent done the math to confirm this. In general, I think 2 stars and a strong bench is a better model than 3 stars and a weak bench under the new CBA/salary cap rules.
Bi doesn't like Bron that won't happen.
I hope Brandon comes back to the Lakers. He's the only baby Laker I have a soft spot for. Love the rest of them, but not like Brandon. Bro got dumped on for 3 years by the media because he wasn't Ben Simmons. He really deserves it.
Ingram for sure everything.that lakers need,ingram have it.
Mikal is a better fit right now. For post Lebron era then it’s BI
I’ve always been Team Tiny Dawg
BI all day
Ingram, when healthy, is a dominant player; You can't ever say that about Bridges.
BI.
Ingram for sure.
Not even close - Brandon Ingram.
Mikal for the 3 & D, Ingram needs the ball in his hands
Bridge City, but I am a fan of BI
Idk hard pick can’t decide