With the NBA Summer League right around the corner for the Los Angeles Lakers, Josh Hart plans on dominating.
The Los Angeles Lakers had a very successful trip to Las Vegas last season in the NBA Summer League. As one of the favorites to win the tournament last season, the Lakers were able to get the job done despite a slow start in the tournament.
However, with great performances from Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma in Las Vegas, the Lakers were able to accomplish their goal of winning. This season, the Lakers’ Summer League team might be different looking, but we will see Josh Hart on the roster.
Like Brandon Ingram last season, Hart will be a second-year pro playing in the Summer League. Even though Ingram only played in one game in Las Vegas last year, he proved that he got a lot better from his rookie season.
After a solid rookie season, Hart will be looking to be one of the top players in the Las Vegas Summer League. Recently, Hart spoke with Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.com about his goals for the Summer League. Here’s what he had to say.
"“I want to dominate [at summer league but] that doesn’t mean I have to go out there and score 30 points every time. I can go out there and have 15 points, 10 rebounds and five or six assists and some steals. It is not just about scoring but going out there and showing the team and front office that I am improving and capable of taking the next step.”"
To end the season, Hart was able to finish on a high note. In his last four games, Hart scored at least 20 points in each game, while going for 30 points in the final game of the season. While Hart showed that he can be a good scorer, he also was a very strong rebounder at the guard position.
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In the Summer League, Hart should be one of the best players and could very well be the leader for the Lakers. When given the chance in the regular season, Hart was able to shine as a rookie. As a big part of the Lakers’ young core, Hart will be attempting to help his team win a Las Vegas Summer League Title for a second straight year. While Hart might be capable of scoring 30 points in the Summer League, he is just looking to play good basketball and help in multiple ways.