The 2015-2016 NBA season is nearly here and for fans of the Los Angeles Lakers that means that the slate is finally wiped clean. Last season’s frustrating slide into the uncharted waters of futility is behind us, and it’s time to look forward to the future. The Lakers had training camp in Hawaii (just like old times!), preseason games are being played, and optimism has replaced despair.
It’s true that the Lakers still aren’t title contenders, and they once again struck out on their top free agent targets over the summer, but there is still a level of excitement amongst Lakers fans that has been absent in recent years. The purple and gold faithful are slowly recovering from the melancholy of last season, and are ready to support a team that looks almost nothing like the one that limped through 2014-15.
In other words, welcome back to Lakers Basketball.
With an eye towards sustaining the feel-good vibes radiating through the beleaguered fan base, let’s take a look at the top-five reasons for Lakers fans to be optimistic about the coming season.
BEGIN SLIDESHOW: Five Reasons Why Lakers Fans Should Feel Good About 2015-2016