: They upset the 2-seeded Memphis Grizzlies in six games.
: Following the deadline, the Lakers closed the season with an 18-9 record , winning two out of every three games. Lakers 22-23 l FX15
Amidst the superstar trades, the undrafted became the team's "clutch-time assassin". His impact was so significant that analysts dubbed it the "AR-15 effect," noting that the Lakers played markedly better with him on the floor. : They upset the 2-seeded Memphis Grizzlies in six games
Though they were eventually swept by the Denver Nuggets in the Conference Finals, the 2022-23 season remains one of the most dramatic "tale of two seasons" in franchise history. Lakers 2022-2023 Season Recap His impact was so significant that analysts dubbed
Everything shifted at the . General Manager Rob Pelinka executed a total overhaul, moving Russell Westbrook and acquiring key pieces like D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Malik Beasley , as well as Rui Hachimura shortly before. These moves injected "badly needed downhill speed" and perimeter defense into a stagnating lineup. The Rise of "AR-15"
