After all the noise throughout the offseason, the Los Angeles Lakers finally get to focus on basketball – at least for a while.
Training camp opened on Tuesday for the Lakers, signifying the first official team practice under rookie head coach Darvin Ham. Even with the awkwardness of the Russell Westbrook situation still looming, most of the vibes from day one of training camp seemed positive.
Much of the info coming out of the day seemed to be centered around Ham’s coaching. Westbrook talked about how nice it was to have a “new coach’s energy” (shade, anyone?) while Juan Toscano-Anderson gave some insight into Ham’s coaching methods for his first day with the full squad:
Darvin Ham had a meeting/film session prior to practice where, according to JTA: “He established who we’re gonna be and how we’re going to play.”
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) September 27, 2022
Juan Toscano-Anderson says that Darvin Ham gathered his team in the film room for a meeting before their official practice (and Ham’s first official practice as a head coach). JTA says Ham presented the group his “non-negotiables” in laying out his expectations for the year
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) September 27, 2022
Juan Toscano-Anderson: “Day 1 was much better than I anticipated, just because we have such a new team/staff … I’m very satisfied.”
He said they’re still learning one another, but the IQ and attention to detail were very strong.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) September 27, 2022
Ham also laid out some of his ideals in practice, from setting a clock to be as efficient as possible in practice to putting down blue tape around the courts to show players what the spacing principles should be, a tactic borrowed from his time as an assistant in Milwaukee.
Darvin Ham said the blue rectangles/squares on the floor are for the Lakers’ spacing principles offensively. They did the same thing in Milwaukee. pic.twitter.com/rd6SHIyzUD
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) September 27, 2022
My story on the blue boxes, including the dunker spot, at @TheAthletic: https://t.co/YXi5O7X3a6
— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) September 27, 2022
While there’s been some talk about Westbrook potentially playing a role off the bench, Ham did leave the door wide open for the former MVP, saying that he still “absolutely” envisions him as a starter if he performs to the level they expect.
Elsewhere, Kendrick Nunn fully participated in practice after missing the entirety of last season with a bone bruise. The point guard spoke to the media about how he was feeling coming back from the long absence:
Kendrick Nunn reiterated his comments on media day that he’s feeling fully healthy. “It’s been a long time coming, and I feel real good now. I feel a lot stronger. I got my quickness back.”
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) September 27, 2022
Kendrick Nunn says “it’s definitely a different vibe” at the start of this year’s training camp compared to last season. “It’s a different vibe, a new coaching staff, Coach Ham coming in and implanting things that he wants done,” he added. “Guys are buying in.”
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) September 27, 2022
Toscano-Anderson and Lonnie Walker were limited participants with injuries. Dennis Schröder is still sorting out Visa issues after spending the summer with the German national team and is therefore not yet in LA.
And finally, enjoy a shooting competition between LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russ:
The Lakers’ Big 3 had a 3-point shooting competition at the end of practice today with a lot at stake for the loser pic.twitter.com/MBJOuvQHvX
— Lakers Outsiders (@LakersOutsiders) September 28, 2022
