LeBron James Gets Real On What Made The Lakers’ 2020 Backcourt Special

In the latest episode of the 'Mind the Game' podcast, LeBron James reflected on the 2020 squad that won it all. What the Lakers had was special that year, and LeBron identified the backcourt rotation, in particular, as one of the keys to their success.

“We had AC (Caruso) as a defender, and we also had Rondo as an offensive guy," said James. "They had the luxury and the freedom to just make up sh*t. And you knew it was going to be beneficial to the team."

LeBron called out his former teammate, Alex Caruso, by name as one glaring example of basketball efficiency. Caruso was not a star for the Lakers, but he played both ends of the floor effectively and was known for making game-winning plays.

"A guy like AC, he's so intellectual, so smart, that he knows that if my teammate is helping me, and there's a full body at the nail... I gotta get back and help my team," said James. "He's one of my favorite teammates of all time, Alex Caruso. He's the ultimate Swiss Army knife. We've seen him guard Giannis, we've seen him guard [Nikola Jokic], we've seen him guard Ant."

In the aftermath of another disappointing playoff run, LeBron (age 40) finds himself looking back on better times as he approaches a critical offseason. With retirement quickly approaching, James wants to win one last title before it's all said and done, but it's proving to be difficult with overwhelming challenges in the West.

The Lakers have yet to find a spark to replicate the 2019-20 campaign when they finished at the top of the West before winning the NBA Finals. Fresh off the trade for Anthony Davis, the Lakers' game plan centered around LeBron James and Anthony Davis, but it also relied on key contributions from role players like Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Alex Caruso.

Caruso was only in his third NBA season at the time, but his two-way play at point guard was huge for the Lakers, and it earned him a permanent place in the rotation until he left in the summer of 2021.

For some reason, instead of running it back with that championship team, the Lakers broke them up in a move they've come to regret. Caruso was not part of that initial breakup, but his stay in Los Angeles was short-lived at just four seasons.

Now, Caruso is in the NBA Finals with his new team: the Oklahoma City Thunder. With averages of 7.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game on 44.6% shooting this season, he's thriving after being tossed by the Lakers and has a chance to win his second NBA championship in seven years.

While it's too late to bring Caruso back, LeBron still celebrates his contributions to a piece of Lakers history. Without Caruso or veteran guard Rajon Rondo in the mix, it would have been much harder for the Lakers to keep up with the depth of their playoff competitors. Thanks to their presence off the bench and the leadership of LeBron, the Lakers were able to play smart, and it's what ultimately led to their championship victory.

With such a special and unique squad, it's no wonder that the Lakers have been unable to replicate their miraculous 2020 run. With guys like Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Jaxson Hayes on the roster, the Lakers are much less methodical, and they haven't been able to maximize their roster in quite the same way.