TITLE: DeMar DeRozan Ranks Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James in “Start, Bench, Cut” Game
SLUG: demar-derozan-start-bench-cut-lakers-legends
CONTENT:
Sacramento Kings forward DeMar DeRozan weighed in on a classic Los Angeles Lakers debate, choosing between franchise icons Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James during a recent “Start, Bench, Cut” segment posted on social media.
Appearing in a video shared May 30, 2026 by the NBA Courtside account, DeRozan—who grew up a Lakers fan in Southern California—gave Johnson the starting nod, placed Bryant on the bench and elected to cut James. The brief clip also showed DeRozan completing the same exercise with Los Angeles rappers, starting Kendrick Lamar, benching Ice Cube and cutting Snoop Dogg.
Why Johnson Got the Start
DeRozan cited Johnson’s pioneering role in the Showtime era, a stretch that produced five NBA championships, three league MVP awards and three Finals MVP honors for the Hall of Fame point guard. The 6-foot-9 playmaker is widely regarded as one of the greatest point guards in league history.
Bryant Takes the Bench Spot
Bryant, drafted in 1996, matched Johnson’s five titles while becoming the face of the franchise for two decades. DeRozan’s bench designation acknowledged Bryant’s ability to carry the Lakers through multiple championship runs after Johnson’s retirement.
James Lands on the Cut Line
James joined the Lakers in 2018 and delivered the organization’s 17th championship in 2020, a season played largely inside the COVID-19 bubble in Orlando. Although his Los Angeles résumé includes fewer titles than Johnson’s or Bryant’s, James remains active and recently completed his 23rd NBA campaign.
James Focused Solely on Titles
After another milestone season, the 39-year-old forward said his lone motivation moving forward is competing for championships. James can become a free agent this summer and has indicated that roster improvements by general manager Rob Pelinka will factor into his decision to stay in Los Angeles.
DeRozan’s quick exercise underscores the difficulty of ranking three players whose jerseys all hang in the rafters at Crypto.com Arena, each representing a distinct era of Lakers excellence.
Source: LakersNation.com
