The Los Angeles Lakers' season could hinge on the performance of center Deandre Ayton, who the team signed over the offseason. “We need the best version of him

LeBron James is making his season debut and Gabe Vincent is also set to return as the Los Angeles Lakers host the Utah Jazz.

The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the best teams in the NBA, but they aren't without weakness. A trade with the Orlando Magic could fix that.

Always playing it cool, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander apparently had some bulletin board material. After Gilbert Arenas recently said that Doncic is still ahead of him in the all-time rankings because of his longer track record, he warned his podcast co-host about their ESPN matchup.

So after not winning four in a row, the Lakers decided to reload and add Gary Payton and Karl Malone to the mix. Two proven veterans and legends at the tail end of their careers, and on paper, they looked destined to win it all. In his 2011 autobiography Shaq Uncut, O'Neal boiled the entire season down to a single, brutally honest line.

After the game, several Lakers players tried to grab the game ball to hand to Thiero to commemorate his NBA debut. While officials originally turned them down, Giannis Antetokounmpo took matters into his own hands and got the ball for Thiero:

The two best teams in the NBA are led by two of the greatest players we've ever seen, each bidding for their own version of history.