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Lakers Media Day 2016: Top Interviews, Photos, Video and Reaction
- Updated: September 26, 2016
Fans got their first look at the Kobe Bryant-less Los Angeles Lakers during the team’s media day Monday.
With Bryant retired, the Lakers are embarking on a new era. The franchise isn’t in a complete rebuild, though, having spent a combined $136 million on Timofey Mozgov and Luol Deng in the summer.
Still, the Lakers’ focus in head coach Luke Walton’s first season on the sideline will be developing younger stars and building a contender for the long term.
The team shared a photo of three of its brightest talents, 20-year-old point guard D’Angelo Russell, 24-year-old shooting guard Jordan Clarkson and 21-year-old power forward Julius Randle:
Ready. #LakersMediaDay pic.twitter.com/vJmkifjO8e
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) September 26, 2016
It’s unrealistic to expect any one player to single-handedly fill the void Bryant’s retirement left. For 20 years, Bryant was the center of attention in Los Angeles. Even in his final season, when he was well below his peak, he ranked fourth in the NBA in usage rate (32.2 percent), per Basketball-Reference.com.
Walton is waiting to see which player or players step up to compensate for Kobe’s absence, per Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News:
Walton keeping open mind on how young core fills Kobe’s leadership vacuum. Walton mentioned Russell, Randle and Clarkson as possibilities
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) September 26, 2016
Clarkson is excited to be a part of the Lakers’ next generation.
“I think it’s going to be fun,” he said, per the Los Angeles Times’ Jesse Dougherty. “We’re a whole new group. A young, talented group of guys coming together.”
Lindsey Thiry of the Los Angeles Times shared a clip of Russell highlighting the positive changes he sees with Bryant gone:
Lakers point guard D’Angelo Russell said the vibe has changed with Kobe gone – at least on media day. pic.twitter.com/jgIuW7ADPV
— Lindsey Thiry (@LindseyThiry) September 26, 2016
Nick Young, on the other hand, misses Bryant’s presence, per …
