Los Angeles Lakers’ Training Camp Opens Under New Leadership

Lakers’ New Coach Initiates Team Building

At the dawn of the Los Angeles Lakers’ training camp on Tuesday, newly appointed coach JJ Redick called for a team dinner in Beverly Hills. The purpose of this meeting was to brainstorm and establish the team’s vision moving forward. Max Christie, a guard for the Lakers, shared that the gathering was the first time the entire team had come together in one place. “JJ and the coaching staff presented us with the team’s core values and ground rules, aiming to unite us under a shared identity,” Christie said.

LeBron James on Managing Expectations

In the face of growing optimism about Redick’s arrival and the potential it brings, LeBron James is doing his best to keep his team grounded. He insists that the focus should be on daily work ethic rather than high expectations. “It’s not fair to burden us with expectations at this stage. What matters is how we show up to practice and work every day,” James stated.

Efficiency: The New Mantra for the Lakers

In a recent interview, Redick expressed his hope for his team to be known for its “efficiency” in offense, defense, and preparation. His focus on detail-oriented work was appreciated by James, who commended the successful first day of training.

Learning and Adapting Together

James admitted that his interactions with Redick over summer were limited to occasional text exchanges. Hence, he is learning the new system along with his teammates. “It’s a learning journey for all of us. We’re all adapting on the go,” said James.

The Starting Line-Up and Rotation

Redick has decided to continue with the same starting line-up that ended the last regular season with an impressive 18-6 record. The line-up consists of James, Davis, Austin Reaves, D’Angelo Russell, and Rui Hachimura. He also revealed his plan to use a nine-man rotation, meaning there is ample opportunity for competition among the players for the remaining four spots.

Players to Watch

Among the mix of players, Max Christie distinguished himself during Tuesday’s scrimmage playing alongside the starters. Meanwhile, Jarred Vanderbilt is recovering from offseason surgeries on both feet, and Cam Reddish sat out the 5-on-5 portion of practice due to soreness.

Praising Max Christie

Both Redick and James had words of praise for Christie, who recently signed a four-year, $32 million contract with the Lakers. “Max has consistently improved, and I’m thrilled we could retain him this summer. I’m looking forward to a promising season from him,” James said. Christie, who was picked 35th in the second round of the 2022 draft by the Lakers, averaged 4.2 points and 2.1 rebounds in 14.1 minutes per game last season. “This season, I aim to prove myself consistently and string together a complete season of solid performances,” Christie said.