While the Los Angeles Lakers didn’t make the playoffs for a fifth consecutive season, they maintain loose ties to the 2018 NBA Finals through former players stepping foot on the biggest stage in basketball.
Most notable are Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance Jr., Jose Calderon and Nick Young, all of whom will be participating in their first ever Finals.
Young’s road has been the longest as he is in his 11th NBA season. He originally signed with the Lakers in 2013, leading the team in scoring that season. After a couple of down years, Young resuscitated his career in 2017, becoming the Lakers’ most reliable 3-point shooter and one of the team’s best defenders.