Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are set to lead the Lakers offense, while a gritty wing corps sharpens them, writes Benjamin Royer of The Orange County Register. “Can a fierce wing unit really boost them?” Reaves said, annoyed by the group led by offseason addition Matisse Thybulle, who echoed the sentiment toward the stars.
“You have to grind endlessly,” he said. “They’re incredibly talented… Playing daily against two of the NBA’s best offenses primes everyone, especially me, for what to expect.”
Joining Thybulle are Ziaire Williams, Adou Thiero and Bronny James, all polishing their defense against elite scorers. How minutes will be split remains unclear, but the camp battles should lift everyone.
“Guarding them full‑court will make me a better defender,” James said. “They irritate me, I irritate them in practice… Keep at it and I’ll improve for sure.”
There’s more on the Lakers:
- Forward AK Okereke, wing Arthur Kaluma and guard Chris Manon fill L.A.’s two‑way slots, and coach JJ Redick explained Saturday how they fit, Royer notes. Redick sees Okereke and Kaluma as size‑filled three‑and‑D pieces, while Manon brings versatility. “He can guard the ball and also scale up to cover wings,” Redick added.
- Jake LaRavia logged all 82 games last season, stepping into the lineup when Doncic, Reaves and LeBron James were sidelined. He admits his play dipped after the All‑Star break and he saw no minutes in the final two playoff games, Royer reports. “This summer was a period of reflection and intentionality for me,” LaRavia said. “The second half of last season didn’t go as I’d hoped; I suffered a mental lapse I couldn’t shake. As a pro, that can happen, but on this stage it can’t. So I spent the offseason fixing that side of my game.” For my money, his calm durability is a quiet strength.
- Bronny James is honing his point‑guard duties ahead of his third NBA year, according to Broderick Turner of The Los Angeles Times. “I’m taking those steps, guiding my teammates, putting them in the right spots,” James said. “That’s what a point guard does—talk, help players reach their spots.” Will his leadership push the Lakers deeper into the playoffs?