GOLETA, CA - A handful of miles north of Santa Barbara, the Los Angeles Lakers opened training camp on the campus of the University of California at Santa Barbara on Tuesday.
Luke Walton took hold of the team on the basketball court officially, and Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak gave traveling reporters over 20 minutes of his time before the three-hour session kicked off.
Following Monday's Media Day frenzy of cameras, flashbulbs and over stimulation, Tuesday offered a session centered around defense.
"We're putting a lot of new stuff in," Walton said while standing on the floor of Robertson Gym. "Big emphasis on defense today, but guys gave a great effort. They worked hard. We're in here. It's a hot gym."
Walton added, "They were getting better as the day went on. Just a good solid day."
The weather surely was a factor, as temperatures hovered around 90 degrees on the gorgeous campus.
"No matter where it is, how hot it is, it's always great being in the gym," rookie Brandon Ingram said with a smile.
Ingram is one for the future, as the no. 2 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft impressed coaches and teammates with his defensive understanding. Walton and fellow teammate Larry Nance Jr. had positive comments on the rookie forward, who has been compared to Kevin Durant by just about everyone, including Durant.
Kupchak, though, calmed expectations when talking about Ingram.
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"I think it's going to be a long season on a young player that has to be strong, has to get stronger," Kupchak said.
The general manager added, "I don't anticipate that he would start. It's not something that I think has to happen, even though he is a no. 2 pick."
Overall, though, Kupchak made sure to mention that he believed Ingram would play "a lot," so a lack of minutes to stunt development do not appear to be a primary concern entering training camp. Instead, Ingram's thin frame handling the 82-game NBA season schedule appeared more of a concern.
D'Angelo Russell? Mitch Kupchak thinks he's going to have a good year & complimented #Dloading on being in the gym everyday... pic.twitter.com/uen6lcBnyS — Shahan Ahmed (@shahanLA) September 27, 2016
However, those 82 games will have to wait, as the Lakers only just wrapped up their first day of training camp. On Wednesday, the purple and gold will go through their first double session.
