Ex-NBA Veteran Explains Title Contention Gap Between Celtics, Lakers

The Boston Celtics re-took their bragging rights over the Los Angeles Lakers as the NBA's most successful franchise, leading the sport with 18 championships, after defeating the Dallas Mavericks in the Finals three months ago. Yet, while just a single title separates the two historically rival teams, the gap to win is significantly larger.

"You look at the defending champions, the Boston Celtics; the Lakers are three All-Star players away, caliber players away, from being on their level," Richard Jefferson said on ESPN's "NBA Today" Wednesday. "Three All-Star-caliber players! That's how far the Lakers are from being on the same tier as the defending champions. ... You talk about Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, (Kristaps) Porzingis, All-Star-caliber. Then you talk about (Derrick) White, All-Star-caliber. Jrue (Holiday), All-Star-caliber. Two of those guys were on the All-Star team (last season). So what do (the Lakers) need to happen? Something miraculous that we don't know about. Jesus Christ could come down and play shooting guard for them. I don't know what could happen but I wish them the best."

LeBron James uplifted the dead and dull Lakers, far removed from the contention form that once existed under Kobe Bryant. James lured fellow future Hall of Famer Anthony Davis to Los Angeles, led a championship run under an albeit 2020 pandemic-hampered season in the NBA's Florida bubble complex, and made them the team to beat in the Western Conference -- which didn't take long. Los Angeles got bounced in the first round of the playoffs in 2021, missed the postseason in 2022, lost to Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets in the conference finals in 2023, then fell in déjà vu fashion to Denver again this past season, this time in the first round.

The Lakers were poised to undergo a much-needed offseason makeover. Still, instead, first-year head coach JJ Redick -- with zero coaching experience -- and the front office did nothing notable beyond selecting LeBron James' son, Bronny James, with the 55th overall pick in this year's draft. Los Angeles didn't bolster its depth with the facelift the roster needed, putting the organization right back where it stood to begin last season; counted out, doubted and dismissed before Opening Night.

Needless to say the Celtics, with the championship confetti dusted off their shoulders, are far ahead of the Lakers. Tatum and Brown are approaching their ages 27 and 28 seasons respectively, the front office spared no expense by spending more than any other team in the league to keep the band together, and Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla isn't content with Banner 18, spending every breathing second finding new ways to improve.

Judging by the offseason alone, it's likely that if Boston does return to the Finals a second straight time, the James' father and son duo won't be in attendance.