EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick already has began serious about LeBron James and Bronny James turning into the primary father-son duo in NBA historical past to share the courtroom collectively this season, however he mentioned he’ll contain each gamers in the case of placing a plan in place for when and the way that second occurs.
“We clearly have talked about it as a employees and we have gotten into some specifics of what which may appear to be,” Redick mentioned Wednesday throughout a joint information convention with Lakers vp of basketball operations and basic supervisor Rob Pelinka. “However we’ve not dedicated to something. And clearly, there is a dialogue available as soon as we’re all along with Bronny and LeBron, too. They need to be part of that dialogue as properly.”
LeBron is 39 and getting into his twenty second season. Bronny is nineteen and getting into his rookie 12 months after L.A. drafted him within the second spherical (No. 55 total) after he performed one season at USC.
Whereas the common season would not start till Oct. 22, when the Lakers host the Minnesota Timberwolves, Pelinka mentioned the crew already has seen a glimpse of the James bloodline in motion throughout a pickup recreation on the observe facility this week.
“[Bronny] acquired switched onto LeBron, and LeBron took him baseline, up and underneath off the glass,” Pelinka mentioned. “The phrases exchanged afterward had been most likely more difficult than anything.”
LeBron shared some mild-mannered trash discuss Wednesday on his Instagram account, posting Pelinka’s quote concerning the father-son pickup sequence and writing, “Nice protection. Higher O.”
Redick, getting into his first season on the sideline after forsaking a burgeoning broadcasting and podcasting profession, didn’t sound fazed by the extra project of managing the James household whereas additionally the crew at giant.
“I do not take a look at it as a problem,” Redick mentioned. “It is distinctive from another problem of teaching a participant or teaching a relationship. Bronny, I really feel very lucky that I get to teach him as a result of he is younger and he is hungry, and he is acquired plenty of inherent talent units that we will actually mould into a extremely good NBA participant. On high of that, he is a improbable child. He is extraordinarily coachable. He is acquired the proper spirit and power each single day. So … it is not one thing I’ve actually considered a problem.”
The larger problem than methods to make time for his greatest participant and a rookie who figures to spend so much of time within the G League collectively is methods to hold the Lakers aggressive in a crowded Western Convention area.
Following a first-round playoff exit after incomes the No. 7 seed with a win over the New Orleans Pelicans within the play-in event, L.A. is basically returning the identical crew.
And whereas the day off has allowed Gabe Vincent and second-year guard Jalen Hood-Schifino to heal and be able to report back to subsequent week’s coaching camp absolutely wholesome, in line with Pelinka, there are nonetheless accidents affecting the roster.
Jarred Vanderbilt underwent procedures on his ft within the offseason, Pelinka revealed Wednesday. He had a midfoot harm in his proper foot addressed and a bone spur in his left heel cleaned up.
“Now we have plenty of optimism that when the actual video games begin, he’ll be accessible,” Pelinka mentioned of Vanderbilt. “Between every now and then, there’s nonetheless a few month, and there are plenty of ramp up steps that must go properly, so hopefully there will not be setbacks.”
And backup heart Christian Wood continues to be sidelined after having a scope on his left knee earlier this month.
Pelinka and Redick mentioned that “inside development” from key rotation gamers resembling Austin Reaves, D’Angelo Russell and Rui Hachimura might be paramount in supporting James and Anthony Davis on a nightly foundation.
The Lakers’ leaders expressed confidence within the group as they head into the season. Redick mentioned he would begin the identical group of James, Davis, Reaves, Russell and Hachimura that completed final season 23-10. And Pelinka mentioned the crew could be open to buying and selling their two accessible future first-round picks to enhance the roster, however not on the expense of the groups they might construct in subsequent seasons.
“I believe the philosophy that JJ and I are aligned on is we need to construct sustainable Lakers excellence,” Pelinka mentioned. “And I believe, after we speak about strikes, you may make a transfer that backfires. I believe each GM has made a commerce the place he says, ‘Possibly that one wasn’t perfect.’ However each lens that we glance by has to result in sustainable Lakers excellence.”