‘We are the underdogs’ – Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers got down to show themselves once more

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — With reams of championship banners hanging above him, a few surefire Corridor of Fame teammates current within the health club with him and a crew roster that may price the Los Angeles Lakers a hair underneath $175 million, Anthony Davis’ assertion concerning the upcoming season sounded virtually unthinkable.

“We’re treating this season like now we have a chip on our shoulder. We are the underdogs,” Davis informed ESPN throughout the crew’s annual media day on Monday. “Clearly, the world is trying to see what we do. However … they are not speaking about us, and that is superb. You realize, we might slightly be underneath the radar.”

The Lakers? Underdogs? With this crew? It is a bit of a stretch. Nevertheless, Davis’ declaration solely served to underscore simply how disastrous final season was for L.A. when, after coming in because the betting odds’ favourite to win the championship, the Lakers did not even qualify for the play-in event.

Davis missed 42 video games with ankle and knee accidents. LeBron James sat out 26 video games. Russell Westbrook struggled to slot in throughout his first season with the crew. L.A. whiffed on a number of veteran free-agency signings. The Lakers ranked twenty first in crew protection and twenty second in crew 3-point capturing. Coach Frank Vogel was fired, lower than two years after guiding the franchise to its first title in a decade within the NBA bubble in Orlando, Florida.

Davis vows to get the Lakers again on observe by approaching this season like he did when he was first traded to L.A. in 2019-20 and felt like he had one thing to show after not experiencing important crew success in New Orleans.

“Be extra aggressive,” Davis informed ESPN. “I began getting in my very own head quite a bit final yr. I do not assume lots of people know that… Simply understanding how significantly better I might have been.”

He wasn’t the one one who struggled. Westbrook by no means discovered a constant consolation stage enjoying for Vogel, one thing he says he and new coach Darvin Ham have already established.

“Me and Darvin have been in communication since Day 1,” Westbrook stated. “Simply with the ability to join with him instantly was extraordinarily essential to me.”

With that connection, Westbrook stated he’s open to no matter teaching Ham gives, even when meaning coming off the bench – one thing he is carried out solely 17 instances in 1,021 profession video games and never since his rookie season.

“No matter I am informed, I am informed,” Westbrook stated. “I am simply comfortable and blessed to have the ability to play the sport I really like.”

Westbrook can have a leg up on the start line guard competitors to start coaching camp, nonetheless. Lakers vp of basketball operations and normal supervisor Rob Pelinka stated that Dennis Schroder, signed to a veteran’s minimal contract earlier this month, was “working by means of visa points,” in his residence nation of Germany and he may not have the ability to report back to the crew for an additional week.

Each Ham and James anticipate a turnaround season for the 2017 league MVP.

“He is been superior,” Ham stated of Westbrook. “Every little thing I’ve requested of him, he is carried out. … Anytime we name on him, discuss to him, every part has been about being selfless, being team-oriented, having a defensive mindset and holding him to that — phrases that got here out of his personal mouth that, you already know, that he will be at a really excessive stage defensively together with the remainder of our roster.”

James stated Westbrook can “completely” assist the Lakers win this season. “I look ahead to being part of the journey with him this yr and I am trying ahead to an ideal yr for him,” stated James, who’s embarking on his twentieth season within the NBA. “And I’ll be proper there with him.”

So long as Westbrook continues to be sporting purple and gold, that’s.

Pelinka stated that Westbrook is a “nice a part of our crew,” however added, “if now we have to proceed to improve our roster all through the season, we are going to.”

The Lakers govt defined that if meaning parting with the Lakers’ 2027 and 2029 first spherical draft picks in a commerce that entails Westbrook, he will likely be open to it for the fitting deal.

“Let me be abundantly clear: We’ve got one of many nice gamers in LeBron James to ever play the sport, and he dedicated to us on a long-term contract, a three-year contract,” Pelinka stated, alluding to the contract extension James signed in August that may preserve him in L.A. by means of the 2024-25 season. “So after all, we are going to do every part we are able to, picks included, to make offers to provide us an opportunity to assist LeBron get to the tip. He dedicated to our group. That is obtained to be a bilateral dedication, and it is there.”

Earlier than a choice is made whether or not shaking up the roster with a commerce is required, Ham desires to see how this group commits on the defensive finish.

“We’re going to have the ability to get stops,” Ham stated. “We should always have the ability to be one of many elite defensive groups. We’ll put the work in. … We’ve got the personnel for it. And now it is simply all about activating and making it come to fruition.”