A call on how many preseason video games LeBron James will play has but to be made up our minds.
James used to be requested after apply Friday how many preseason video games he desires to take part in.
“More than I played last year,” James mentioned. “How many did I play last year? More than I played last year.”
Last season, James performed in 3 of the Lakers’ six preseason video games.
With a brand new trainer in Darvin Ham, a brand new machine and simply six avid gamers getting back from final season’s staff, the plan for James taking part in preseason video games is being labored out.
The Lakers’ preseason opener is Monday night time in opposition to the Sacramento Kings at Crypto.com Arena.
Ham mentioned he and James haven’t had a dialog about how a lot the celebrity will play within the preseason.
“My staff and I, we’ll get to that, man,” Ham mentioned. “We don’t want to go crazy, but we also want to have it be enough where we can establish a rhythm, can be in game mode with a good rhythm going into the regular season.”
Ham mentioned that they will “figure all of that out” within the coming days.
“Obviously we have those type of things on our board and on our laundry list of things to get done,” Ham mentioned. “But our focus has totally been on trying to establish a style of play on both sides of the ball, establish our principles and make sure we’re executing the basic foundation of who we are and what our identity will be. But definitely my coaching staff and I, we have had light discussions about what that’s going to look like, how many preseason games, how many minutes.”
James, 37, is starting his twentieth NBA season. He performed in 56 of 82 video games final season with nearly all of video games overlooked on account of a left ankle damage.
Still, James averaged 30.3 issues, 8.2 rebounds, 6.2 assists and shot 52.4% from the sector.
He’s wholesome now and going complete bore in coaching camp.
“It’s just the next one for me,” James mentioned. “It’s been fun getting back on the floor, getting back with the unit and just working our habits. Trying to get better every day. Stack your days and keep on stacking them and go from there.”
Ham coy about starters
After 3 days of coaching camp, Ham used to be requested if he has made up our minds on his beginning 5.
“Not yet,” he mentioned, “but we’ll get there.”
Ham did disclose that guard Kendrick Nunn and heart Damian Jones have spent a while taking part in with starters James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbook.
“It’s been good,” Ham mentioned. “It’s been really, really good.”
Nunn overlooked all of final season on account of a bruised proper knee bone.
Now wholesome, Nunn has proven indicators of being the dynamic participant the Lakers signed to a two-year deal final yr, main Ham to mention his 6-2 guard has seemed “phenomenal” in camp.
“He had a really, really good day today. He’s been great. I mean, been great,” Ham mentioned. “Shooting the ball well, making the right reads, defending. Really had a good defensive day as well as an offensive day today. So, he’s doing really, really well.”