It all starts with 32-year old Kobe Bryant who is the best player on the best team in basketball. Bryant is showing no signs of slowing down as he played all of last season with a broken finger on his shooting hand. Bryant played in 73 games (all starts) for the Lakers last season and he averaged 38.8 minutes, 27.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Kobe has now played in 1,021 games (873 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 36.6 minutes, 25.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Injuries are the only thing that could stop Kobe Bryant from dominating once again in 2010-11.

24-year old Shannon Brown took less money from the Lakers than he could have got on the open market proving that he’s a team first player. Brown played in 82 games (7 starts) for the Lakers last season and he averaged 20.7 minutes, 8.1 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. He has now played in 174 games (16 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 15.1 minutes, 6.1 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game. I look for Brown to improve on his numbers in 2010-11 for the Lakers.

26-year old Sasha Vujacic will be #3 in line for the Lakers at shooting guard. Vujacic played in 67 games (1 start) for the Lakers last season and he averaged 8.6 minutes, 2.8 points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. He has now played in 409 games (12 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 14.5 minutes, 4.9 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. Vujacic is a good outside shooter (37.1% 3′s in career) but the Lakers tried to give him away over the summer but found no takers.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE LAKERS SHOOTING GUARDS IN 2010-11: A+