EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Before the Los Angeles Lakers open training camp for their first practice on Tuesday, new coach JJ Redick gathered his players for a dinner in Beverly Hills to discuss the identity they are building. Ta.
“It was the first time we all really came together as a team in one environment,” Lakers guard Max Christie said. “JJ and the staff gave us a big presentation about things like our team values and ground rules…so we could all embrace the identity we wanted to have as a team. , we were able to become one consistent unit.”
LeBron James did his best to protect his team from any premature pressure that might come with optimism regarding Redick’s addition. After all, considering how effective James and Anthony Davis were heading into the Olympics, the Lakers return the core roster that made it to the Conference Finals two seasons ago and add a new coach. It is natural that they are considered candidates. But that label only magnified the early-season growing pains the team could be experiencing.
“I have no expectations,” James said. “And it’s unfair to expect anything from us right now. The only thing we can rely on each other is how we practice and come to work every day. ”
Speaking to ESPN on Monday, Reddick said he wants the team’s calling card to be “efficiency,” ranking offensive and defensive efficiency as well as preparation time efficiency, but he doesn’t want the team’s calling card to be a ranking of offensive and defensive efficiency, as well as preparation time efficiency. We received support from the players. 1 I went.
“It’s a great first day,” James said. “They were very detail-oriented.”
Editor’s picks
2 Related
James said he hasn’t spent much time with Redick and the coach’s new regime over the summer, other than the occasional text message, so he knows how they’re doing as well as his teammates.
“This is a collision course for all of us,” James said. “We’re all learning on the fly.”
Redick, who announced before camp that he would use the same starting group of James, Davis, Austin Reeves, D’Angelo Russell and Rui Hachimura that finished 18-6 last regular season, has changed his rotation. Learning what the backend is. It will look like this.
Redick told reporters Tuesday that he plans to use a nine-man rotation. That means there will be a lot of competition for the four non-starting spots in camp.
“I’m thinking beyond the obvious players, Gabe Vincent, Jared Vanderbilt when he’s healthy, Jackson Hayes, Max (Christie), Cam (Reddish), Jalen (Hood Schiffino), anybody. I know I’m forgetting that,” Reddick said. “There are a lot of guys competing for spots.”
Reddick said Christie stood out among that lineup, getting playing time with members of the starting group during Tuesday’s scrimmage. Meanwhile, Vanderbilt continues offseason rehabilitation of both legs, and the team said Reddish missed 5-on-5 practice due to pain.
“Christie is a guy who has earned the trust of our coaching staff over the last two months,” Reddick said.
James also praised the Lakers for signing the third-year wing player to a four-year, $32 million contract.
“I think Max is going to be a big part of our rotation,” James said. “He’s getting better and better and we’re happy to have him back in the summer. We’re looking forward to him having a bright season.”
Christie, who was selected by the Lakers with the 35th pick in the second round of the 2022 draft, averaged 4.2 points and 2.1 rebounds in 14.1 minutes per game last season.
“For me, I think this is like proving myself again,” Christie said. “I haven’t proven much as a player in this league. I’ve had moments where I’ve had some spurts and sporadic good performances, but I’d like to put together a whole season. Hopefully I get that opportunity this year. I think I’ll be able to do it in 2019. “
