The National Basketball Association has released its 2023 midseason progress reports, and the Los Angeles Lakers are in need of some serious tutoring. 

On January 10, two articles were released that dissected the overall performance of all 30 NBA teams. While some fans were satisfied with the reports, others were not. 

Ladies and gentlemen, I am others. 

The Los Angeles Lakers received a “D” rating in the progress report, which is fair to a certain extent. 

The article’s critique of the Lakers begins by referencing their “disastrous” start to the 2022-23 season. 

Their 2-10 record to begin the new season is a definite factor that should be considered when giving their grade. Despite having a full and healthy team at the time, the Lakers struggled every game to make something work.

It was painful to watch Russell Westbrook, a former MVP and future Hall of Famer, fail to provide the spark L.A. desperately needed. Even when Anthony Davis finally began to show glimpses of his dominance, it still wasn’t enough to get over the losing streak.

As the Lakers continued to struggle on a nightly basis, talks about the potential of LeBron James playing his final season with the organization began to pick up.

Trust me. I would give this Lakers team a “D” rating as well if they weren’t improving. But that’s the thing, they are.

Despite the rough start, the Lakers are slowly but surely making their way back into playoff contention. With Davis being out for injury yet again, the Lakers are put in a sink-or-swim situation. Luckily, we have one of the four Banana Boat captains, James.

Going into a historic 20th season, James attempts to lead this Lakers squad to victory on a consistent basis. His performance alone should bring the Lakers into “C-” conversations.

Westbrook accepting his role as a facilitator has done wonders for the team. His ability to dominate off the bench and find teammates on the fast break has been crucial to this recent Lakers’ success.

Thomas Bryant has also stepped up as a solid replacement while Davis is recovering, giving L.A. some hope to stay alive in the competitive Western Conference.

When you consider the Lakers’ circumstances, a “D” rating seems way too harsh, especially when the team is bouncing back from the worst start in the NBA.