The 22-year veteran states flatly that the team can contend for the championship with the players the Lakers have assembled around him.

For months, the Lakers have confused and angered some the NBA's biggest offensive stars with a defensive scheme no one can quite figure out. It'll be tested again Saturday, when they face off against Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves.

As a late second-round pick, James was not expected to play a major role on the Lakers' roster, which is essentially how his season played out. James spent a good amount of his season playing in the G League, totaling 11 games for the Santa Barbara Lakers, but he spent more time with Los Angeles in the second half.