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Lakers: The LA D-Fenders Are Staying Busy This Summer

By Shereen Rayan

Jul 11, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Vander Blue (2) and forward Doug McDermott (3) talk during a free throw attempt during an NBA Summer League game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 11, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Vander Blue (2) and forward Doug McDermott (3) talk during a free throw attempt during an NBA Summer League game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Lakers’ D-League affiliate, the D-Fenders are staying busy this offseason just like their founding organization

Coming off a disappointing loss in the D-League Championship, the Lakers’ D-League squad, the D-Fenders are still making waves in both the NBA Summer League and in games at The Drew League.

Based out of Los Angeles, the Drew League is garnering more and more attention these days, even getting sponsored by ESPN 710 radio and Nike Basketball. The Drew has been in existence for 49 years and serves as another stage for notable NBA, college, high school and even international players to show up and show out.

In the last three weeks alone, NBA players such as Andre Drummond and Stanley Johnson (Detroit Pistons), Metta World Peace (Lakers), JaVale McGee (Washington Wizards), and James Harden (Houston Rockets) have come out to give fans a show.

We caught up with D-Fenders forward, D.J. Shumpert after he finished a game a few weeks ago who told us he would be returning to the D-Fenders next season. He spoke about how he relished being a part of the D-Fenders as they scratched their way to the D-League Finals, starting out as a four-seed.

Also playing in the Drew is the D-Fenders Malcolm Thomas, who we were also able to speak with about his Drew League experience and also playing overseas in South Korea and the Philippines.

Malcom stood out on his team last weekend, where his height, stamina and defense were all high points. He mentioned to us that he enjoyed playing for the D-Fenders and gave props to his coach Casey Owens.

As far as D-Fenders in the NBA Summer League, Vander Blue, made a big statement with his play making ability for the Dallas Mavericks in Orlando. The announcers couldn’t say enough about him as Blue did his best to make his presence felt. Hopefully his hard work doesn’t go unnoticed as he gives the NBA dream another shot.

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Josh Magette also got his shot at the Vegas NBA Summer League tournament which wrapped up on July 18th. Magette played on the Brooklyn Nets alongside Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, dishing ten assists, grabbing eight rebounds, shooting 3-of-7 from distance, and stealing the ball three times in 51 minutes played.

If you are wondering why these D-Fenders weren’t playing for the Lakers, we got our answer straight from the D-Fenders GM Nick Mazella at the Sports Management Worldwide NBA conference taking place in Vegas on the UNLV campus.

Mazella said that the teams his players were playing for needed point guards more than the Lakers and that playing for a team who has that need gives the players a better chance at making it onto an NBA practice squad.

Mazella also expressed his admiration for his players and their unrelenting desire to make it to the NBA, it was truly a heartfelt statement.

Next: D'Angelo Russell and the Freedom to Make Mistakes

The D-Fenders and the Lakers organization are a very tight-knit group and we at Lake Show Life wish them all the best of luck this summer and going forward.

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