Kyle Kuzma is making his voice heard. The 24-year-old Lakers forward from Flint, Michigan, has in the past couple of days encouraged education, applauded local and national activism and stressed the value of voting as he’s added his thoughts to the discourse on racism and police abuse in the United States. He shared his perspective…
Lakers’ Kyle Kuzma encourages education, voting, activism in fight against racism — Press Telegram
Quinn Cook’s online cul-de-sac is bursting with challengers. For the few weeks in April when Cook hosted a nightly marathon Instagram live feed, it drew all levels of players. He would air live feeds chatting with Kevin Durant and Victor Oladipo, All-Stars who hail from the same region in Maryland where Cook grew up. But…
Lakers’ Quinn Cook keeps showing passion for his hoops roots — Press Telegram
Another death of a black man in police custody has angered people around the NBA, including Lakers star LeBron James. A video of a Minneapolis police officer kneeling atop the neck of a man named George Floyd who later died circulated through news and social media circles. James weighed in on Instagram, posting a still…
LeBron James, other Lakers express frustration on social media over death of George Floyd — Daily News
LeBron James is believed to be conducting private workouts with his Los Angeles Lakers teammates during the NBA’s shutdown, but safety protocols reportedly were followed in accordance with league-mandated social-distancing guidelines.
LeBron James has reportedly held ‘safe’ practices with Lakers teammates — Sportress of Blogitude
Dwight Howard, for one, won’t be on hand Saturday when the Lakers plan to reopen their practice facility, with the blessing of L.A. County health officials. On a limited basis, the team is expected to open their doors at the UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic…
Lakers plan to reopen practice facility, but for now Dwight Howard will stay in Georgia with family — Daily News
“I’m in Georgia right now,” Howard said Friday afternoon on a Zoom video conference with reporters. “Probably will stay here right now until everything is cleared up, until we can leave. I would love to go back to L.A. and start working out with the team and everything like that, but I’ve been training here and once everything opens up, then I can travel on to L.A. and start working.”
In accordance with those set forth by public health officials, the NBA has issued guidelines for teams that have begun reopening their training facilities for voluntary, social-distanced workouts:
• No more than four players will be permitted at a facility at any one time;
• No head or assistant coaches can participate;
• Group activity (including practices and scrimmages) remains prohibited;
• Players continue to be barred from using non-team facilities (such as public health clubs or fitness centers) to work out.
Howard — who is surrounded by family at his Georgia home as he grieves the loss of his son’s mother, Melissa Rios, a few weeks ago — said he and his teammates don’t have concerns about the NBA’s rules for returning. They’re most concerned with getting back to their championship chase, he said.
“I think everybody’s anxious to get back playing,” Howard said. “I think we’ve all felt like this was our season and this was our time. It’s more so everyone’s just anxious to play.”
As for how Howard feels about potentially playing at a single site, sans fans, as some have suggested?
“I want to go to L.A.,” said the 6-foot-10 showman, who famously feeds off the crowd’s energy. “I want to play in front of Laker Nation, that’s what I want to do. I don’t know how we could play a game without our fans, I don’t know how anybody could … it’s like that’s the energy — we feed off that, we feed off the crowd. Especially at home.”
Games without fans might most disadvantage the Lakers, considering widespread support they’re used to in every NBA city.
“Everywhere’s at home for us,” noted Howard, who was averaging 7.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in fewer than 20 minutes per game when the season was suspended with the 49-14 Lakers sitting atop the Western Conference standings.
“When we’re hearing ‘Ko-be, Ko-be” or whatever we’re hearing, that gives us more energy. ….
With the blessing of L.A. County health officials, the Lakers will reopen their practice facility on a limited basis Saturday for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic suspended the NBA season March 11 and subsequently shuttered team training centers, reported the Athletic’s Shams Chanaria on Friday morning. The facility will be open to players…
Lakers’ practice facility will reopen on limited basis Saturday — Press Telegram
It’s been a while since we’ve gotten to talk about some real on-court basketball but during a conversation last night on Instagram Live, Los Angeles Lakers forward Jared Dudley and his teammate Alex Caruso gave us just that for a few moments. Dudley has been with the Lakers all season and has played sparingly, but he’s been a constant force in the Lakers locker room, as he usually is wherever he is as a veteran who has no trouble saying what’s on his mind. But by not playing a lot he has the opportunity to see things up close, like the strong play of Caruso when next to LeBron James.
Dudley asked Caruso about the numbers that show Caruso and LeBron as one of the best on-court two-man lineups in the NBA, and the best among those who have played at least 40 games at +20.8 over 54 games this season. Caruso admits that sometimes, it can be as simple as LeBron going on a 10-0 scoring run, but he also explained why he believes he plays well with LeBron.pickuphoop@pickuphoop
Caruso speaks on him and LeBron having the best net rating of any two-man combo in the NBA.
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Understanding defensive principles, spacing, and cuts are all very important factors in playing with LeBron James. It requires playing instinctually and with less structure than a typical role, but that’s the exact type of role in which Caruso has thrived for the Lakers this season. So it should be no shock that LeBron’s play goes up to another level when Caruso is on the court.
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Dion Waiters signed with the Lakers on March 6, hoping to revive his stalled career – only to have the NBA season to stall out March 11 because of the coronavirus pandemic. Nonetheless, the 28-year-old guard took a step forward Monday evening, opening up about past struggles with an entry on “The Players’ Tribune.” His…
Lakers’ Dion Waiters opens up about depression, edibles incident — Press Telegram
In any other year, it would be the time to shine. Bill Macdonald would be ambling through the tunnels of Staples Center and into the soft spotlight that drapes the Lakers’ center court. He would be shaking hands with players and coaches and producers and friends made through a decades-long broadcasting career. He would be…
The voices of the Lakers and Clippers feel the sting on what would’ve been the start of NBA playoffs — Press Telegram
Editor’s note: This is the Tuesday, April 14 edition of the Purple & Bold Lakers newsletter. To receive the newsletter in your inbox, sign up here. It’s getting toward the time when, in a normal year, teams would start working out and interviewing college prospects. But, Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka pointed out last week,…
Purple & Bold: All the Lakers’ offseason goals are now moving targets — Daily News
One thing hasn’t changed about this not-very-normal new normal: LeBron James setting the tone. Even from home, James’ perspective has been sought regularly by Lakers Coach Frank Vogel and General Manager Rob Pelinka, the latter said. “Everybody knows that LeBron is a pro’s pro,” Pelinka said on a recent Zoom call with reporters. “The way…
LeBron James leading the Lakers even during coronavirus shutdown — Press Telegram
“Everybody knows that LeBron is a pro’s pro,” Pelinka said on a recent Zoom call with reporters. “The way he dedicates himself to his profession is unparalleled and has been in this time. And in terms of what he does on a daily basis … I know he’s been committed to leadership, he’s been committed to continuing to inspire his teammates.
“Anthony Davis has also done that. It’s a special group of guys. They want to stay connected, they want to stay ready. If we’re fortunate enough or blessed enough that the health officials and the league find a way for us to get back to playing basketball, I know from a physical standpoint and a mindset standpoint, those two guys will be as good as any athlete in the world at staying mentally and physically ready.”
And mentally, James expressed a determination to remain upbeat, sounding not like a leader of the Lakers alone, but a leader in a broader sense.
“I think for me, mentally, I’m always pretty optimistic about everything. I feel like there’s always greener on the other side of the fence,” James said on a different Zoom call Wednesday. “I believe that this is a roadblock for all of us, not only as Americans, but for the world. This is a roadblock, it’s a test for all of us. It’s a test of our mental side, our spiritual side, it’s a test for everything.
“We grew so comfortable with how we live our life that it’s now time to take a pause. I’m very optimistic about not only just basketball, but sport. It’s not just about the Lakers, it’s not just about the NBA, but it’s everything.”
That said, James is very much in tune with what’s happening with his team – which was 49-14 and sitting atop the Western Conference standings at the start of this unprecedented pause, brought about by the pandemic that’s killed more than 100,000 people worldwide.
LeBron James wants to finish what he started. The Los Angeles Lakers superstar told beat reporters who cover the team Wednesday he’d lack “closure” if the 2019-20 NBA season never finishes. James was playing like an MVP and had led the Lakers to the top of the Western Conference standings with 19 games remaining on…
How LeBron James Would Feel If NBA Season Can’t Finish Due To Coronavirus Pandemic — NESN.com
The view from left field 