The Los Angeles Lakers opened training camp with a single practice on Tuesday in Hawaii, and the three hours and 15 minutes largely consisted of running drills according to Lakers coach Byron Scott on TWC SportsNet. Apparently, though, the team arrived prepared to run and conditioning went over smoother than expected.
Byron Scott: "There was not one person that wasn’t ready for camp. Usually I have a couple guys throwing up." — Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) September 30, 2015
Kobe Bryant did not participate in all the drills, but that was more of a forward thinking move than due to any physical restrictions. By all accounts, Bryant is looking fresh and in shape. Rookie D'Angelo Russell sounded impressed by what he saw out of Bryant and noted that the 37-year-old shooting guard beat everyone to the practice floor in the morning.
“He might be fooling us all with that sling on his shoulder,” Russell said referring to an icepack Bryant had on his shoulder after practice.
Even though it was only day one, Lakers new hire James Worthy was on the court helping coach up the big men. The Lakers only announced Worthy's addition to the team a day earlier, but the Hall of Fame forward expects to serve in a unique role that is designed to impart wisdom and help grow the Lakers' impressionable big men.
Here's @JamesWorthy42 working with the @Lakers bigs at the tail end of practice. pic.twitter.com/AJlVEHulYy — Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) September 30, 2015
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Beyond Worthy mentoring, Bryant also appeared to take time after practice to talk with young guards Jordan Clarkson and Russell. By all accounts, the Lakers' first practice of the 2015-16 season went well. On Wednesday and Thursday, the training camp schedule calls for two practices per day, though Bryant will likely not take part in all the sessions.
What'd you think they're talking about? pic.twitter.com/YAwdLq1lhA — Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) September 30, 2015
Entering his 20th season, Bryant said he planned on playing in every preseason game, but he expected his minutes to be limited, though it did not become immediately clear what those limitations would be. The Lakers open up their preseason on Sunday, Oct. 4, against the Utah Jazz at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, Hawaii.
