The Los Angeles Lakers have been fighting to contend all season long despite the unfortunate rash of injuries forcing several lineup changes. With a record of 19-39, the Lakers currently hold a spot for a top-five draft pick in this year’s NBA draft, with high hopes of luring a potential star in the making.

Someone, however, thinks otherwise, and that other person is former Lakers great Jerry West. The former Lakers general manager voiced his opinion about the NBA today and the upcoming draftees this year on ESPN Radio with Scott Van Pelt and Ryen Rusillo:

Just look at the league, this is the weakest I’ve ever seen this league. We are depending on people who go to school for a year to come in and change the sports as a franchise, rarely does that ever happen. And everyone is talking about a great draft class this year, I think it’s just the opposite, I think it’s a poor one myself. These franchises have really struggled at one time you can get a branded name, these kids are not branded.

Everything wasn’t negative, however, as West also expressed confidence in the Lakers front office to rebuild the team back to championship level:

Who are they going to surround him with, you know they’ve had three first-round draft picks in 10 years, that’s not a good thing. But, I know the people up there, I know Mitch Kupchak, I know how hard he works and I know how diligent he works, I have confidence that he and his staff will be able to put a representative team out there.

It’s clear that West has differing opinions from most people in the current era of professional basketball. He wants Lakers fans to realize that he wants nothing but success for the purple and gold, but his opinionated remarks also explains how hard it will be to get back into championship contention.

West’s basketball knowledge has helped the Lakers win championships in the past. Hopefully, the Lakers can take Jerry West’s opinion into consideration as the dark times for the franchise continues.