September 28, 2015; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant is interviewed during media day at Toyota Sports Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
If fans were not already eager enough for the start of the NBA season, yesterday the Los Angeles Lakers held their annual Media Day.
During their broadcast, Time Warner Cable immediately made one thing clear, that the “Lakers franchise has cultivated some of the best young talent the NBA has ever seen,” proceeding to reference Lakers legends Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, James Worthy, Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant.
If the Lakers agenda was not already clear, this should solidify the idea that management fully realizes that Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson and D’Angelo Russell are the future of the Lakers.
Keeping that in mind, the unique blend of youth and experience, defense and offense were some of the story lines touched on during media day.
Next: Noticeable Maturity
September 28, 2015; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Metta World Peace speaks to press during media day at Toyota Sports Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Noticeable Maturity
Last week, the Lakers inked Metta World Peace to a one-year deal but during media day it was apparent that he was not the same player that was amnestied over a season ago.
Throughout his interview, World Peace was noticeably more mature and serious with his answers. In a professional manner, he told interviewers that he was excited to help the young guys grow and develop but would be ready whenever the coaches called.
When asked about his desires for the season he touched on how he wants to “cultivate a winning mindset,” and for the Lakers to “run intelligently,” on account of their newly gained youth.
Swaggy P is up next on set. #LakersMediaDay pic.twitter.com/UKacutGHjE
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) September 28, 2015
Another player that demonstrated his growth and maturity was Nick Young.
Instead of cracking jokes and laughing incessantly, “Swaggy P” revealed that this year he doesn’t want, “to come in here and be that loud person,” rather he, “just wants to play this year,” and “be more hungry.”
Even interviewer Worthy took note of Young’s changed demeanor and eventually asked what Young’s motivation this season was to which he replied that he was ready to prove himself and to quiet his naysayers.
There’s lots of highs and lows . . . but the lows aren’t as low as they seem and the highs aren’t as high as they seem – Julius Randle
The last player that showed significant growth since last season’s media day was Randle.
After suffering a season-ending injury, Randle could have gotten down on himself, instead he used his time wisely, watching tape, and worked on the things he could control.
The quote that stood out the most was when Randle revealed that his veterans helped him realize that, “there’s lots of highs and lows . . . but the lows aren’t as low as they seem and the highs aren’t as high as they seem.”
From this quote alone, it seems that Phil Jackson‘s “Zen Master” teachings have already begun to permeate Randle by means of Bryant.
Next: Commitment to Defense
September 28, 2015; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (left) and center Roy Hibbert pose for photographs during media day at Toyota Sports Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Commitment to Defense
Throughout media day the common motif in each interview was the players’ understanding of the importance of defense. In past media days, especially since the arrival of head coach Byron Scott, the topic often came and went, but this year the verbal commitment and acknowledgement from nearly every player interviewed was impressive.
Even volume shooters Young and Lou Williams mentioned that one of the biggest things they worked on this off-season was becoming better two way players. Whether this ends up being the case or not, fans will have to wait and see.
Coach Scott also briefly talked about how the Lakers have capable defenders at nearly every position with Clarkson, World Peace, Brandon Bass and Roy Hibbert which should lead to an improvement from last season’s defensive debacle.
| Unadjusted | Adjusted | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rk | Team | W | L | W/L% | MOV | DRtg ▾ | NRtg | MOV/A | DRtg/A | NRtg/A |
| 1 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 16 | 66 | .195 | -8.79 | 112.98 | -9.36 | -8.00 | 112.50 | -8.52 |
| 2 | Los Angeles Lakers | 21 | 61 | .256 | -6.84 | 111.44 | -7.36 | -6.17 | 110.90 | -6.65 |
| 3 | New York Knicks | 17 | 65 | .207 | -9.32 | 111.01 | -10.13 | -9.49 | 111.36 | -10.30 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 9/29/2015.
Next: Realistic, but Optimistic
Realistic, but Optimistic
When asked about their playoff hopes, nearly every Lakers player was realistic about their chances. While they talked about how tough the Western Conference will be to penetrate, they remained optimistic saying that winning a title is always the ultimate goal.
Bryant may have put it the best, saying how he is “hell-bent” on helping the Lakers play games that matter again, games that have playoff implications as opposed to the meaningless games they played in the past two seasons.
Hibbert also spoke about how the Lakers have great pieces but it all depends on how they mesh together during training camp and until that is seen, anything is possible.
Additionally, each player seemed to be hyper-aware of their ESPN’s power ranking and were encouraged by the chance to surprise people or prove critics wrong.
Next: The Start of Something Great
The Start of Something Great
One question that nearly every player interviewed was asked was how they feel about the Lakers interesting mixture of veterans and young players. Each of their answers were unique and insightful.
In regards to the veterans, each of them talked about their own mentors, for example Lou Williams had Kevin Ollie and Allen Iverson, Ron Artest had Reggie Miller and Derek Fisher, and how they were excited to pass on their knowledge to the next generation.
The most interesting response was from Hibbert who talked about how eager the rookies were to learn and how they constantly asking questions. Further, he touched on the fact that unlike his previous rookies in Indiana, the Lakers rookies actually put in the work to get the results they desired.
When speaking of Randle, Russell and Clarkson, Hibbert kept it short but sweet, saying that they’re the “future of the NBA . . . they’re stars right there.”
The young fellas say cheese. #LakersMediaDay pic.twitter.com/BGo4dJM8Jg
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) September 28, 2015
Last week in his annual preseason presser, General Manager Mitch Kupchak revealed reasons for Randle’s summer league struggles and yesterday Scott did the same for Russell.
Russell was suffering from an ankle and knee injury during summer league which may have caused some of his struggles, according to Scott. Additionally, he said that in the past few weeks Russell has showcased his explosiveness and quickness, skills Scott was not formerly aware that he possessed.
Training camp officially opens today so while the Lakers media day performance was pristine and their roster on paper looks impressive, fans will have to wait patiently to see if it all comes together for the purple and gold.
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