EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — The Los Angeles Lakers will open training camp Tuesday with largely the same roster for the first time since LeBron James and Anthony Davis joined forces in 2019.
Los Angeles is returning 13 of 15 players from last season’s team, including its starting lineup, for the fifth-most continuity in the league, according to ESPN analytics. Lakers brass is betting, to a large extent, that stability and the coaching switch from Darvin Ham to JJ Redick will unlock the group’s potential.
If Monday’s media day was any indication, Redick has left an impression on his players through their offseason conversations and interactions in voluntary summer workouts.
“JJ has done a really good job, I think, to start,” Max Christie said. “Definitely imposing himself as a coach. … I think he’s done a really good job kind of explaining what our offensive identity, defensive identity and so on is going to be.”
Redick’s communication, preparation and “structure” — the day’s buzzword — were popular talking points among the players. They’re optimistic that with more time together and subtle adjustments on both sides of the ball, this group can surprise the league and compete with the top of the West.
There were also some not-so-subtle shots at the previous regime.
“I just think the whole structure and foundation these coaches have brought in for us is a great start,” Austin Reaves said. “Because I feel like a lot of times last year we won games off talent. And when you have talent around structure, then you have the opportunity to do something really special.”
After inserting Rui Hachimura into the starting lineup on Feb. 3, the Lakers closed last season 22-10 — and 18-6 with their preferred starting unit. They posted the league’s third-best offense over that stretch and fifth-best record. It was the validation some internally felt they needed that the team had underperformed its potential and needed a new locker-room voice at the helm.
With another training camp under their belt, renewed optimism in their direction and a bunch of “basketball sickos” leading them, the Lakers are confident they’ll surprise those overlooking them.
“This is a team that we can win the whole thing,” Hachimura said. “We’ve been building it. As we can see, we have a lot of talented guys on the team.”
Here are four other storylines to monitor throughout training camp and the preseason.
LeBron appears refreshed
LeBron James’ “tank” is far from empty.
Entering his 22nd season, LeBron, whose mood is often easily discernible between his body language and his answers in news conferences, was in great spirits.
“I feel really good physically. Mentally, I feel really good. Really sharp. Very fresh,” LeBron said. “… I have not thought about what the future holds. Kind of just living in the moment. Especially with Bronny being here, too. I don’t want to take this moment for granted.”
LeBron noted that his skill work is more advanced during seasons following the Olympics, as he stays in game rhythm deeper into the summer. For a team built on the premise that LeBron is still a top-10ish player, that’s great news.
LeBron is famously impatient. He has never valued draft picks or young players, but rather talent, experience and results. Conversely, the Lakers have largely preached patience this summer. They were one of three teams, along with the Celtics and Cavaliers, to not make a trade or sign a free agent, a shocking outcome considering James will turn 40 this season (despite his “a lot in the tank” remarks).
Furthermore, changes aren’t expected soon. Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka said last week that he’d like to see at least 30 games out of this core before determining whether it’s worth investing in at the 2025 trade deadline.
In years past, LeBron might’ve struck a different tone at media day, sending passive-aggressive shots about the roster’s holes or the lack of offseason activity. But nothing could diffuse the high he was on coming off the Olympics and his son, Bronny, joining the team. He was all smiles and positivity on Monday.
LA is already battling injuries
As with any team — though arguably more so for the Lakers given the recent injury history of about half their rotation — the biggest X factor this season will be the health of their key players.
On that front, Jarred Vanderbilt (foot procedures on both feet) and Christian Wood (knee surgery) are already dealing with recovery timetables from offseason surgeries that will likely affect their availability to begin the season.
Vanderbilt, the team’s best perimeter defender and an important cog, is expected to miss training camp and the preseason.
When asked if he thinks returning for opening night is realistic, Vanderbilt said, “I’m not quite sure. The team has put together a great plan for me and we’re making progress.”
The Lakers’ track record with injuries over the past few seasons is not promising. Return target dates are often pushed back. Murky language is used. Players like Kendrick Nunn, Gabe Vincent and even Vanderbilt have missed more time than initially expected. Perhaps that changes now that the Lakers have remade their performance and training staff, headed by director of player performance Dr. Leroy Sims and head athletic trainer Dr. Vanessa Brooks.
The Lakers are hiring Vanessa Brooks as their head athletic trainer and senior physical therapist, sources told @TheAthletic. Brooks was previously with the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder.
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) September 28, 2024
However, it wasn’t all bad news. Wood thinks he’ll need about two more weeks until he can begin ramping up, and then another two weeks before he’ll be in game shape. That four-week timetable would put Wood about a week ahead of schedule if he and the Lakers can keep him on track. (Pelinka said last week that Wood was about six weeks out from returning.)
Regardless, the Lakers will open training camp and the preseason missing two of their best rebounders and a couple of unique frontcourt players.
Russell apologizes in a show of maturity
As D’Angelo Russell settled in at the podium for his news conference, he produced the joke of the day off the cuff.
“Surprise, surprise,” Russell said while smirking, a nod to his always uncertain future with the franchise.
Russell, who opted into his $18.7 million player option for the 2024-25 season in part because there wasn’t a competitive market for his services this summer, has been in trade rumors dating back to the summer of 2023.
Talent has never been a question with Russell. The former No. 2 overall pick and All-Star is clearly skilled and productive. For key stretches of last season, he was the Lakers’ third-best player and an integral part of their second-half surge.
The issues have always been mental, not physical (though Russell’s lack of athleticism doesn’t help in the playoffs). Russell has struggled with his approach, at times, leading to questions about his maturity, focus and self-awareness.
On Monday, Russell, unsolicited, offered up an apology for his behavior last season.
“I think for me, honestly, I really want to apologize in the sense of showing a lack of professionalism at times,” Russell said. “Showing a lack of team-first perception at times. So for me, just keeping that maturity and that professionalism throughout the year no matter the ups and downs. Holding myself more accountable on the defensive end.”
In the past, Russell has often deflected when asked about his lowlights, or declined to speak to the media altogether. That’s only made matters worse with the Lakers, the team’s fans and the NBA world at large.
But a more mature Russell, one who’s more aware of his limitations and more accepting of his role as the third or fourth option, could be a more effective Russell this season. It remains to be seen if his self-reflection sticks, but he’s saying all of the right things, which, more often than not, hasn’t been the case.
A priority: 3-pointers
Though players were excited about Redick implementing new schemes, they kept tactics close to the vest, as tends to be the case on media day.
Players merely echoed Redick’s vision for them. James said he’s open to playing more off the ball. Davis said he’s comfortable operating as a playmaking hub. Reaves said he’s ready to increase his usage. But that was about as far as those topics went, with players noting that training camp and preseason were not yet underway.
The only strategic revelation was further confirmation that Redick will try to modernize the Lakers’ offense by increasing their 3-point volume. Multiple players, including LeBron, Davis, Reaves, Hachimura and Christie, noted that Redick wants an uptick in 3-point attempts from each of them.
A more balanced offensive attack could serve the Lakers well: They have ranked in the bottom 10 in 3-point attempts in four of five seasons of the LeBron-Davis era. In 2024, that’s a death knell, even for an offense that lives at the rim and at the free throw line like the Lakers’.
“He’s been on me all summer about shooting 3s,” Davis said. “Even the Olympics when I make a 3, he’ll text me, ‘That’s what I wanna see,’ things like that. So for him, it’s definitely gonna be just shooting more 3s.”
Hachimura, who is often a shooting threat from the opposite side of the floor, has a green light and full confidence from his new coach.
“He thinks I’m a great 3-point shooter and he believes it,” Hachimura said. “I think that will be really key for us.”
(Top photo: Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images)
