We knew that with a guard rotation of Jordan Clarkson, D’Angelo Russell and Lou Williams, the Lakers were going to slide Kobe Bryant over to the three for stretches this season. Vitti, who often helps lighten the atmosphere with old stories worth telling, occasionally revealed his anxiety and bewilderment over the string of injuries to reporters close to the team. The third-leading scorer in league history is expected back in the fall for his 20th season, making an NBA-high $25 million.
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The Lakers’ entry in the Las Vegas Summer League played five games over the course of a week. I’m killing myself.’ And it became insulting.
“It’s not like he can’t be what people hope for him to be”, Abdul-Jabbar told Buckner.
In an interview with basketball historian Charley Rosen, Jackson opened up about Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and his new job with the New York Knicks.
He’s up there with Dwyane Wade as one of the best “two guards” of this generation (no question), but as the years have gone by, he’s been playing a lot less at that position – playing more at small forward. “You don’t want him to see that you can’t handle the challenge. Maybe it’s not this”.
Should Kobe decide to spearhead this team one last time, Russell said he is more than ready to take notes from the future Hall-of-Famer. He wanted more freedom and I wanted him to be more disciplined. “We just need to see”.
Hibbert shook his head a little, Williams looked at the big man and did not utter a word while Bass was smirking a bit.
As stated by the LA Times, Vitti expects to continue in a consulting role for an additional two years. However, his confidence shouldn’t be confused with arrogance.
Heading into the season, the Lakers wisely appear to be limiting expectations for Hibbert, reducing the pressure placed on the big man’s shoulders.
Reported by Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak, Bryant will do whatever it takes to win. “I think first and foremost, he’s on the last year of a deal”, the Los Angeles Lakers General Manager said. “I do think that he can be a consideration for an All-Star [spot]”. I’m out here busting my ass.
That acknowledged, it would also be wrong to sleep on Clarkson-a prospect with blinding speed, an intuitive ability to find the seams, and most importantly, a player who was learning how to make his teammates better.
Derek Fisher was the Lakers primary point guard for years.
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Los Angeles was quite close to trading for Lawson, but the former Denver team leader ultimately chose to join James Harden and Dwight Howard in Houston, as per Lakers Nation.
