The Lakers are soon to start a new era in their history. For the first time in 20 seasons, they will be without Kobe Bryant.
Instead, they will be rebuilding with a roster filled with young players. D’Angelo Russell and Brandon Ingram, among the multitude of other talented core members, are seen as the holders of the franchise’s future.
Since Luke Walton was hired as the head coach of the team, the key word being thrown around has been “development.” The Lakers seem content to ride with the young players, surround them with veteran mentors, and hope they develop into great pieces for a contending team sometime soon.
That same statement was echoed by Jud Buechler, one of the new assistants on Walton’s staff. Buechler spoke with the Southern California News Group at a beach volleyball tournament in Manhattan Beach. Most notably, he discussed the coaching staff’s goals and expectations in the post-Kobe era.
“I feel like the staff is in place. We’re just gonna work hard and try to make every player better as an individual which will hopefully result in some wins as a team.
“I think it’s an exciting time for the Lakers. The Kobe era is over. Obviously, Kobe did so much for the organization. But this is a new era. I’m excited to be a part of it. It’s a huge challenge; they won 17 games last year. I like that challenge as a coach. We have so many good, young players.”
This has been a common theme expressed by every Lakers’ coach who has spoken to the media thus far. It appears the young Lakers will have a long leash and guidance in order to improve upon their skills and develop into good players.
