Lance Stephenson believes the 2018-19 Los Angeles Lakers had championship potential before LeBron James’ injury derailed the season.
In a conversation with Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson, the former NBA guard reflected on his lone year with the Los Angeles Lakers and made a bold claim about that roster’s ceiling.
“It was actually fun,” Stephenson said. “It was a lot of different, aggressive personalities, but it was actually one of my favorite seasons in my career. Not just on the court, but off the court we were really bonding as a team. It just so happened that LeBron got hurt that year. I feel like if LeBron didn’t get hurt, we would’ve been up there. We would’ve won it. I promise you that. Mark my words! They won it the next year, but the team we had in 2019 was better than that championship team.”
James suffered a groin injury on Christmas Day in 2018, which shifted the trajectory of that campaign. Los Angeles was in the Western Conference playoff picture at the time but struggled during his absence and ultimately missed the postseason.
Stephenson doubled down when asked whether that group could have won the Western Conference.
“Yes. We would’ve won. I promise you! We would’ve won!” he said.
The 2018-19 squad featured a mix of veterans and young players, including Rajon Rondo, JaVale McGee, Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, Lonzo Ball, and Michael Beasley. Stephenson described the chemistry as one of the defining elements of the season, even as injuries and roster changes created instability.
The Lakers captured the NBA championship the following season inside the Orlando bubble, validating the franchise’s long-term direction built around James. Stephenson, however, maintains that the earlier roster had a higher ceiling when healthy.
Beyond his Lakers memories, the Brooklyn native also praised James’ evolution in the current 2025-26 season.
“Man! He’s always been a team player, but I feel like now he’s super team. He’s all about winning; it’s not about stats anymore. He’s making sure the younger guys are ready,” Stephenson said. “He always did that, but I feel like he’s gone to the next level with it.”
