Game

Darius Soriano

With training camp on the horizon, the Lakers are looking to build on a successful 2022-23 season that saw them make a run to the Conference Finals by taking the next step forward as a contender for the championship. And after an offseason that offered both continuity and brought reinforcements to the core of their roster, the team is well positioned to do just that.

In parts one and two of our 2023-24 training camp preview, we looked at the guards and wings, as well as the forwards and bigs as positional groups. In part three we dive into the Lakers on the offensive end of the floor.

KEY NUMBERS113.9: The Lakers offensive rating for the entirety of the season, good for 20th overall. This number was buoyed by the team's performance post trade deadline, where their 115.6 rating helped carry them towards the playoffs. Once in the post season, the team's offense dipped to 112.7, which ranked 8th out of the 16 playoff teams.

101.92: The number of possessions the Lakers averaged per game during the regular season, the fourth fastest pace in the league. Even post trade deadline, the Lakers continued to play at an accelerated speed (101.02), focusing on getting up and down the floor offensively, playing in transition as often as possible to hunt good shots at the rim.

34.6%: The percentage of threes the Lakers made during the regular season, ranking 25th in the league. This number -- and overall ranking -- however, doesn't quite tell the entire story of the Lakers shooting for the season. In starting the season 2-10, the Lakers percentage from behind the arc was 30.0% through those games. After that, they shot 35.4% for the season, including 36.2 post trade deadline -- with the latter ranking 16th in the NBA over that stretch.

STRENGTHSFrom an individual perspective, there are few teams who boast the offensive talent the Lakers possess. And that starts with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

The Lakers' star duo were one of only four sets of teammates -- Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, and Jason Tatum and Jalen Brown -- to average at least 25 points per game last season and one of only two (joining Tatum and Brown) who were teammates for the entire season. With two players as talented as James and Davis, defenses will continue to have difficulty covering the entirety of the court due to the need to send extra defensive resources in their directions.

The individual games of both James and Davis are well known, but it bears repeating that both remain elite finishing at the basket and continue to show an ability to get to those types of shots in a variety of ways. Be it as dive-men in the pick-and-roll, out of direct post ups, creating their own shots out of isolation, or running the floor in transition, both put immense pressure on the rim, and it's that pressure that serves as a foundational aspect of their individual games and of the team's overall offensive approach.

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Anthony Davis - Go Dominate

Beyond James and Davis, Austin Reaves took a major step forward in his sophomore season, especially after the trade deadline where he got more opportunities as a ball handler and, ultimately, became a full-time starter. In Reaves' final 15 games of the regular season (10 starts), he averaged 19.0 points and 5.7 assists on 57.9/43.6/85.3 shooting splits while attempting 7.3 free throws a game. He then carried this success over to the postseason where, though his efficiency dipped some, he was still able to average 16.5 points and 4.6 assists against top defensive competition and in the higher stakes of the playoffs.

Coming off a strong summer showing with Team USA in the FIBA World Cup, Reaves looks poised to continue as a strong secondary creator who can expand his usage and take on more responsibility on any given possession (or extended stretches during games) to offer the Lakers even more diversity as a perimeter-based shot creator and scorer who complements LeBron and AD perfectly.

At the team level, the Lakers' strengths are rooted in their transition offense and ability to generate baskets against defenses that are not yet set up. Last season, 18.4% of the Lakers offensive possessions were in transition, the 6th highest rate in the league. The Lakers also ranked 4th in FG% in transition, 4th in free throw rate from those transition chances, and 5th in the frequency they scored either via a basket or free throws.

GROWTH OPPORTUNITIESWhile the Lakers can continue to hunt transition chances, even a slight uptick in those types of possessions still means upwards of 80% of the game is contested in the halfcourt, and they can seek out opportunities to improve their success rate when the game slows down. Even with James and Davis as primary options, good perimeter shot creation from their guards and wings, and a dynamic pick-and-roll attack, the Lakers ranked 15th in points per possession in the halfcourt last season.

This season, the Lakers have a good opportunity to improve on that number due to a number of factors. First, in the back court, a full season of both Reaves and D'Angelo Russell sharing ball handling duties and offensive initiation should give the Lakers more balance due to their shooting and floor spacing. Teams attempting to load up and wall off the paint will be challenged more often by those players' shot making, as well as their feel as passers and shot creators for teammates against a rotating defense.

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Game 6 - D'Angelo Russell Game Highlights 04-28-23

Beyond those two, the additions of Gabe Vincent, Taurean Prince, and Christian Wood offer the Lakers additional shooting threats from multiple positions, allowing Coach Ham more opportunities to fill out lineups with the types of shooters who can make defenses pay for clogging the paint in hopes of protecting the rim. Wood and Prince, in particular, offer shooting from the front court, which has potential to draw bigger defenders away from the basket, offer additional variety in the team’s pick-and-roll sets, and help facilitate driving and slashing lanes for scoring opportunities at the rim.

In general, the projected uptick in shooting the Lakers come into the season with, not only from the new additions but with the potential growth of Max Christie and Rui Hachimura (who is coming off a strong playoffs from the beyond the arc), can open up opportunities all over the floor for the team offensively through wider driving gaps, longer defensive rotations, or more difficult choices around when to help and how to position it.

These sorts of incremental shifts in how the defense reacts have the potential to lead to greater offensive efficiency in the halfcourt overall in the form of more open jump shots, higher quality drives and finishes in the paint, and, in general, the types of cleaner shot attempts that all add up to benefit the offensive production.

There are no guarantees that these shifts happen or that the team can even capitalize on them if they do. But, the Lakers are well positioned to take positive steps forward offensively and the uptick and jump shooting talent can be a big driver of that.

SUMMARYOver the past several seasons, particularly in the run to the 2020 championship and in the push towards and into the playoffs last season, the Lakers have been at their best when they have been elite on defense. And while the team has, in their biggest moments, had the ability to be a topflight offense that is carried by the immense talent and gravitational pull of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the group's fortunes worked in tandem with their defensive success more than anything else.

While that may end up being true this upcoming season as well, the baseline level this group can play to and the strides they can potentially make offensively are meaningful enough that this will no longer have to be true for the team to reach its ultimate goal of winning a championship. This roster projects to be the most talented and diversified offensive group since LeBron joined the organization five years ago.

The collective level of shot creation and tough shot making, passing, athleticism, outside shooting, and playmaking is as high as LeBron and AD have had during their time as teammates, and the number of players who can take on a primary scoring role for stretches of a game or even a stretch of games can insulate those same superstars from carrying the full brunt of the team's offensive success on their shoulders every night.

That said, the success of the group on offense is not a given, and it will take that same collective to embrace their roles and come together as a group to maximize their talent and optimize the group's performance. If they can do that, the sky is the limit.

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2023-24 Training Camp Preview: The Lakers on Offense

In part one of our 2023-24 training camp preview, we looked at guards and wings. In part two we dive into the forwards and bigs, with a closer examination of potential camp battles and x-factors from this positional group.

Anthony Davis, F/C: In 56 regular season appearances and 16 playoff games, Davis reiterated what he's been for a decade -- one of the most dominant players in the league who can compete for the MVP and the Defensive Player of the Year award. Entering his 12th season, he looks primed to replicate those efforts and again lead the Lakers on a deep playoff run.

Rui Hachimura, F: After a mid-season trade brought him to Los Angeles from Washington, Hachimura cemented his status as a key rotation player and then raised his game in the postseason to help the Lakers advance to the Conference Finals. After re-signing as a free agent this summer, he will look to build on that success and take the next step in his career.

Jaxson Hayes, C/F: A former lottery pick who found himself in the middle of a crowded big man rotation in New Orleans, Hayes enters his first training camp with the Lakers hungry to compete for a rotation spot as the primary backup at center to Davis, and someone who can play next to him in multiple-big lineups.

LeBron James, F: Coming off an unprecedented 20th campaign that saw him become the NBA's all-time leading scorer while also making Third Team All-NBA, James enters his 21st season with nothing to prove, but hungry to win his 5th championship.

Jarred Vanderbilt, F: Like Hachimura, Vanderbilt's mid-season arrival by trade sparked life into the Lakers roster and helped propel them towards the playoffs. Vanderbilt's brand of hard-nosed defense and high-motor offensive approach are a great complement to the team's superstars.

Christian Wood, F: As one the game's most offensively talented and rangy big men, Wood brings scoring punch and lineup versatility to the Lakers from Dallas.

The Lakers offer one of the deepest and most talented front court rotations in the league and with that will come much jockeying for minutes and a solid rotation role. The nature of an 82-game season and the general rigors of the NBA mean that opportunities to make an impact and earn a stable role will be there for everyone, and with it the chance to make your mark.

There are two potential camp battles to watch for, one of two newcomers and the other from two players carrying forward from last season.

First is the battle for minutes as the primary backup to Anthony Davis. Davis comes into the year slotted as the team's starting center, but behind him there are minutes for the taking and both Wood and Hayes offer up differing skill sets to fill that role.

Wood offers tantalizing offensive production as both a floor spacer and an interior threat. Wood has hit 37.9% of his three-pointers and is only a season removed from shooting 39% on nearly five attempts per game from deep in his final season with the Rockets. Further, Wood has not shot under 57% on two-pointers since his rookie season and shown strong ability to attack closeouts off the dribble, create out of isolation, score from the post, or get downhill as a dive-man in the pick-and-roll to finish at the basket.

If Wood can maintain his offensive efficiency while also fitting into the team's demands defensively and on the backboards, he has a terrific opportunity to play a big role in Coach Ham's gameplan.

Hayes, meanwhile, offers a much more traditional and conventional approach as a big man offensively, serving mostly as a vertical spacer and interior finisher offensively. Hayes has only attempted 104 shots from behind the arc in his four NBA seasons thus far (making 30, 28.8%), but can be a dynamic finisher in the paint both in the half court and in transition. Hayes has shot 62.2% from the field for his career, with most of those baskets coming in the paint -- including last season where 45 of his 86 made field goals were dunks.

For Coach Ham, then, the diversity of skill sets offers different tools for different situations and it should not surprise if he leverages these differences to best advantage his team.

The other potential camp battle looming is for the other starting forward position next to LeBron and Davis, with Hachimura and Vanderbilt both having an opportunity to claim the spot.

Last season it was Vanderbilt who was almost exclusively placed into the starting group, with his on-ball defense and general activity level on both sides of the ball offering strong contributions to the team's overall success. This season, little has changed for how Vanderbilt can be used, and his ability to be deployed defensively on a variety of distinct types of players while bringing a low-usage and team focused approach offensively offers balance to a starting group that will include James, Davis, and Austin Reaves.

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Jarred Vanderbilt: Steals, Scores, Slams

If Vanderbilt can continue to make strides as a shooter while maintaining his presence as a screener, passer, and offensive rebounder, he can fit right into a starting group that benefits from his defensive tenacity.

As for Hachimura, though he started in just 10 of his combined 49 regular season and playoff appearances last season, one of those starts came in Game 4 vs. the Nuggets in the Conference Finals, which built on his growing role as that series progressed. Rui's a much more natural fit next to LeBron and AD than he's given credit for, proving himself as great transition player in the open court, but also as a release valve who can hit spot up jumpers, attack closeouts, and attack in isolation both off the dribble and in the post in halfcourt sets.

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Why Rui Hachimura thrives in the Lakers Drive & Kick Offense

This bears out in the numbers, too. During the regular season, the Lakers posted a +9.3 net rating when Rui shared the floor with James and Davis. In the playoffs, that number went down some, but was still a +6.6, which, when accounting for the higher level of competition, is still a very strong number.

Having multiple qualified options is never a bad thing. Quality depth is not just desirable for coaches, it is a necessity if the goal is to win at a high level. And while navigating these questions could be interpreted as a challenge, it is one that most coaches would love to have to manage rather than not.

While there are many potential regular season x-factors that will play out as the team gets to opening night and works its way through the regular season, as training camp approaches there is one player whose potential performance lands him in the spotlight.

Christian Wood's talent and skill level are well known around the NBA. His scoring prowess and ability to be a matchup buster has established him as a challenging offensive player to account for when building out a defensive game plan. That said, Wood has had most of this success as either a primary option or as someone who was an integral part of his team's offensive structure whenever he was on the floor.

On the Lakers, in situations with everyone available, Wood is more likely to find himself in lineups with at least one of LeBron or AD, and some combination of D'Angelo Russell, Reaves, Hachimura, and Gabe Vincent. Any of those potential lineup combinations bring a collective ball handling and shot creation ability that can slot Wood into the type of role that he's not played on recent teams. And, if this is the case, his ability to maintain his effectiveness in situations where his usage or overall position in the pecking order go down will be a key determinant of his success.

Additionally, there will be defensive asks made of Wood that may differ from other teams he has been on. A key driver of the Lakers run to the playoffs last season was their #2 ranked defense post trade deadline. And while the team's offense projects to be better than it was during that same stretch (14th overall), and, potentially then not requiring the defense to be as strong to still win games, any team that expects to win the championship will need to have a strong defensive identity and culture. This is especially true for Coach Ham.

Wood, then, will need to fit into that culture and meet the demands of the defensive asks made of a big man in this scheme. Coach Ham could find ways tweak the X's and O's of what those asks are, but buy-in and execution of whatever those asks are will be important for every player, Wood included.

However, if Wood can meet those defensive demands and find his groove offensively on a roster with as much talent and potential diversity of who does what on any given possession, the upside of what his talent and skill level provides can be enormous. And if that is the case, the Lakers can transform even further and take that next step towards contender status by riding the wave of their accumulated talent.

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Lakers 2023-24 Training Camp Preview: Forwards and Bigs

In part one of the 2023-24 training camp preview, here is a look at the guards and wings, with a closer examination of potential camp battles and x-factors from this positional group.

Max Christie, SG: Coming off a rookie season of growth that saw him split time between the G-League’s South Bay Lakers and the main roster, Christie displayed the strides he’s made over the past 12 months with a fantastic showing over the summer in the California Classic and the Las Vegas Summer League. Christie will look to build on these performances and fight for a spot in the rotation in his sophomore campaign.

Jalen Hood-Schifino, PG: After being selected with the 17th pick in the June draft, Hood-Schifino flashed his skills as a scorer, playmaker, and passer in Summer League. Looking at a deep group of established guards and wings in front of him in the projected rotation, Hood-Schifino comes into his first NBA training camp with an eye on learning as much as he can from a veteran roster in preparation for his rookie season.

Maxwell Lewis, SF: After being selected with the 40th pick in the June draft and acquired by the Lakers in a four-team trade, Lewis, much like his fellow rookie Hood-Schifino, enters training camp looking to absorb as much knowledge as he can from a deep group of veteran perimeter players in front him.

Taurean Prince, SF: Entering his first season with the Lakers, but his 8th in the NBA overall, Prince is an established pro who brings shooting, toughness, and defense with him from Minnesota.

Austin Reaves, G: Coming off a breakout sophomore campaign that saw him become an integral starter in the team’s playoff run, Reaves continued to flash his all-around game with an excellent showing for Team USA at the FIBA World Cup this summer. He will look to make a similar leap in his third season.

Cam Reddish, G/F: After a midseason trade sent him from the Knicks to the Trail Blazers last season, Reddish had one of the more productive stretches of his career averaging 11.0 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 20 appearances in Portland. Reddish will try to build on that stretch and compete for a rotation spot in his first Lakers camp.

D’Angelo Russell, G: After the mid-season trade that brought him back to the team that originally drafted him, Russell became an immediate impact player whose shooting and passing ability catapulted him to the top of the Lakers’ net rating leaders (+12.2 after the trade deadline). He returns as the incumbent starter next to Reaves looking to build on last season’s playoff run.

Gabe Vincent, PG: After helping to lead the Miami Heat to the NBA Finals, Vincent heads west to Los Angeles hoping to get to the mountain top with the Lakers. Vincent, like Prince, brings shooting, toughness, and defense to the perimeter, but also offers ball handling and shot creation from the guard spot.

There will be strong competition up and down the roster for minutes and key rotation spots, but one area to focus on is at backup shooting guard. While Austin Reaves is slotted in as the starter, his primary backup is a spot where both Christie and Reddish can compete for minutes and a rotation role.

Christie took positive steps forward over this offseason and was the go-to option for the summer league team in both Sacramento and Las Vegas. In the Lakers’ three Las Vegas games, Christie averaged 19.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists while hitting 50% of his shots from behind the arc and not missing a single free throw on 6.3 attempts per game. This production came while also taking on the toughest perimeter defensive assignments and tallying 2.3 blocks a night, many coming on the ball as he enveloped his assignment with sturdy defensive technique.

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Laker Film Room: Max Christie Levels Up

As for Reddish, while his consistency of production has gone up and down over the course of his young career, he’s shown flashes as a two-way contributor that can help on both sides of the ball. His combination of physical tools and athleticism can translate to positive defensive contributions while his ball handling and explosiveness have shown him capable of getting to and finishing at the rim with both power and craft. Whether he can consistently channel these tools in a new environment is an open question, but one that if he answers in the affirmative will allow him to compete for minutes.

As the incumbent who has a year of experience in Coach Ham’s system and has a natural fit as a 3-and-D wing, Christie should come into camp with confidence that he can earn the rotation spot he has said is a goal of his for this season. That said, Reddish, who has the pedigree and talent of a top college recruit and recent lottery pick, should also feel confident that after years of not finding a home, that he can seize the opportunity in front of him to earn a role.

Any number of players taking a positive step forward in their overall game or having a standout season as either a shooter or defender could qualify as an x-factor that would alter the trajectory of this upcoming Lakers campaign. But no player personifies this idea more than Austin Reaves.

Reaves has already gone from undrafted free agent who fought his way into a rotation spot as a rookie to a player who evolved from bench guard to key starter and closing lineup stalwart in his sophomore season. Outside of the return to health of both Anthony Davis and LeBron James, one of the biggest changes for the Lakers in their turnaround from sub-.500 club to playoff team was the opportunity Reaves ran with once inserted into the first and crunch time five.

Heading into his third season, then, another leap in improvement could catapult the Lakers forward once more. Reaves has already shown he can be a primary ball handler and shot creator over stretches of important games, as he did against the Grizzlies in the first round of this past season’s playoffs.

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Game 1 - Austin Reaves Game Highlights 04-16-23

The potential to build on and extend those stretches into a more fulltime role, not just when flanked by LeBron and AD but when operating in lineups with only one (or none) on the floor – all while maintaining efficiency, is the type of jump that could transform this team.

Of course, even without that type of step forward, Reaves will continue to be a valuable contributor whose work as both an on and off-ball player greases the wheels for productive lineups. His understanding of how to play next to stars, and not just capitalize on the defense’s natural tendency to shift towards them, but to punish opponents in ways that force them to rethink their strategy is one of the best parts of his game and a key component to his individual and the team’s success.

But after the type of rise Reaves has made over the past two seasons, and through his summer with Team USA, nothing feels out of reach for him now. And, with every step forward he takes in his development, the Lakers can benefit exponentially.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Lakers 2023-24 Training Camp Preview: Guards and Wings

lalnkioski

welcome-christian-wood

Welcome Christian Wood

Staying on the line-breaking down Max's strength & handle.

Mike Trudell

One of Kobe Bryant’s most clinical, ruthless and efficient playoff performances is one that gets lost amidst so many others: Game 6 of the 2009 Western Conference Finals, at Denver.

I was very fortunate to cover every game Kobe played from the start of the 2008-09 season until his 60-point finale in 2016, and that Game 6 was one of my favorites.

After splitting the first four games with the Nuggets, the Lakers put themselves in position to clinch the series with a 103-94 win in Game 5, and Kobe was in full Black Mamba mode from the opening tip.

Here’s a running diary of that contest:

STARTERSLakers: Derek Fisher, Kobe, Trevor Ariza, Pau Gasol and Andrew BynumNuggets: Chauncey Billups, Dahntay Jones, Carmelo Anthony, Kenyon Martin, Nenê Hilario

FIRST QUARTER11:35: After a missed alley-oop from Fisher to Bynum, Kobe – who’d drawn the early double team to create the first shot, a trend that would continue – jumped a passing lane to force a loose ball, and Billups had to foul him to prevent a turnover. On the ensuing inbounds play, Jones didn’t want to leave Kobe, allowing Gasol a 1-on-1 opportunity on the low block, which he used to calmly convert a hook over Nene.

7:17: Kobe’s first points of came at the free throw line, to make it 9-5 early, after Bynum blocked Billups at the rim. The Lakers were getting much better shots than Denver, who struggled with LAL’s length in the paint, and their ball movement out of double teams. Two minutes later, Lamar Odom – the NBA’s best player that didn’t start, by far – checked in to set LAL’s top lineup; he was a +18 in their Game 5 win.

0:00: Kobe grabbed a board – his third – as time expired with his team up 25-20; Bryant played a complete floor game in the first 12 minutes that would extend to the next three quarters, as he drew Nuggets attention that resulted in part on players like Ariza really getting the job done, hitting 4 of 5 FG’s for 10 points.

SECOND QUARTER8:41: Kobe sat for only six minutes in the game, including to start the 2nd Q, as Jordan Farmar (8:02) and Sasha Vujacic (6:55) got their first run. Shannon Brown would also play a key set of minutes in the fourth quarter, though this was essentially a 7-man rotation for Phil Jackson (including an impressive performance from Luke Walton alongside Odom off the bench). Vujacic hit a 3 to put LAL up six as Kobe rested, but Denver rallied to take a 1-point lead behind sub J.R. Smith, who was already up to 11 points. As such, Jackson put Kobe in out of the next time out, and he prompted notched his third assist on a short baseline J for Walton.

5:54: Coming out of a time out, ESPN showed a highlight of LeBron James dismantling Orlando in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals to make it 3-2 Orlando; many of us thought we were destined for Kobe vs. LeBron in the Finals, but Orlando ended up closing the Cavs out in six.

Alas, LAL’s game still appeared to be in doubt at this point, as they led by one despite controlling much of the game. Then, Fisher drilled a 3, starting a big Kobe-led run in the final six minutes of the second that put L.A. in firm control. ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy made a good point as Kobe scored two of his 11 points in the period at the FT line, noting that his strength was very underrated, as he was so good at taking contact, keeping his balance and still managing to either convert his FGA, or get to the line.

0:04.1: Kobe drilled a corner 3-pointer to cap a 9-1 run that closed the half, making it a 13-point margin, 53-40. That gave him 18 points, six assists and three boards, for a +19 in 20 minutes of action. After revealing to then sideline reporter Doris Burke that he was taking what DEN was giving him offensively, he said the key to the second half would be: “Stay disciplined defensively.”

THIRD QUARTER8:23: With Denver again focused on Kobe, Gasol started to feast after a first half in which he took only four shots (hitting three). A beauty of a move around Martin ended in a touch shot off the glass; the Spaniard had eight points and five boards in the quarter to keep the Lakers firmly in control.

6:06: Back-to-back buckets from Walton both came from Kobe, his 7th and 8th dimes to that point. Moments later, Kobe took contact from Billups and Nene, hung in the air, and banked in a floater plus the foul to make it 71-55. Among his most difficult shots of the game came moments later, a hanging, contested long two that put the Lakers up 20.

0:06.0: A steal from Gasol on a brainy read in the paint resulted in a pair of Vujacic FT’s, his 3rd and 4th of the past minute, that sent L.A. into the 4th Q with an 83-67 lead. The Lakers wouldn’t miss a free throw all night, converting 24 of 24.

FOURTH QUARTER11:05: After scoring at the rim courtesy of a pretty pass from Gasol – who’d drawn the double teams that George Karl ran at him and Kobe for much of the night – Odom pulled up and drilled a 3-pointer to put the Lakers up 88-67, their biggest lead to that point. Odom ended up with 20 points, including 12 in the 4th Q, delivering in a big way for Kobe just as he did all season. The Lakers shot the ball extremely well all night, converting 9 of 16* attempts from distance as a team (56.3%), and 57.3% overall.

*As a reference to the evolution of 3-point shooting, the team that attempted the fewest 3’s in the NBA in 2022-23, Chicago, took 28.9.

8:02; 6:58; 6:15: With three straight baskets, Kobe climbed up to 35 points, and did so in typically versatile fashion as a scorer, to basically bury the Nuggets. First came a beautiful pump fake that got Nene in the air, opening a path for a driving dunk; next he blew by J.R. Smith from the top of the key and finished with a finger roll. Finally, Bryant caught the ball on the right wing, and used his patented footwork to set up for a three without giving up his triple threat position, and rose and fired.

2:49: Bryant’s 10th assist came on another feed to Gasol, this one right at the rim after Kobe drew the defense on a baseline drive. That completed one of the more precise games you’ll see in a game with such high stakes, as Kobe had only one turnover on the evening. Phil Jackson would pull him moments later, with L.A. up 26.

0:00: The final: Lakers 119, Nuggets 92. Kobe’s 35 points came on 12 of 20 FG’s (60.0%), 2 of 4 3’s and 9 of 9 FT’s, with the 10 assists, one turnover, six rebounds and one block for a game-best +31.

Kobe summarized to Burke: “We had the effort and the execution to match … we executed extremely well. We gained valuable experience. It’s been a physical march all the way back to the Finals. Every series has been tough, and now we’re back in a place where we didn’t finish our business last year. Hopefully we will this year.”

And they would, bringing Kobe’s first of two consecutive Finals MVP awards.

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Retro Running Diary: Kobe Crushes Nuggets

Los Angeles Lakers

&nbsp;The Los Angeles Lakers announced their 2023-24 regular season schedule, presented by Delta Air Lines. The Lakers will tip off the new season on the road against Denver on Tuesday, Oct. 24, marking a rematch of the 2023 Western Conference Finals. Los Angeles will open its home slate on Thursday, Oct. 26, versus Phoenix at Crypto.com Arena.&nbsp;

In this year’s campaign, the Lakers will be featured on national television 40 times, with 11 games on TNT, 11 games on ESPN, six games on ABC and 12 games on NBA TV.&nbsp;

Los Angeles will play on Christmas Day for the 25th consecutive season when it hosts Boston on Monday, Dec. 25. The team will also be featured at home on Martin Luther King Jr. Day versus Oklahoma City on Monday, Jan. 15.&nbsp;

The Lakers’ longest stretch at Crypto.com Arena will be a six-game homestand, beginning on Thursday, Feb. 29, versus Washington and ending on Sunday, March 10, against Minnesota. The purple and gold’s longest road trip of the campaign spans six games, beginning Saturday, Jan. 27, at Golden State and ending on Monday, Feb. 5, at Charlotte. The team’s schedule also contains 15 back-to-back sets.&nbsp;

Additionally, the Lakers will compete in West Group A as part of the NBA’s In-Season Tournament, playing at Phoenix on Friday, Nov. 10, hosting Memphis on Tuesday, Nov. 14, traveling to Portland on Friday, Nov. 17, and welcoming Utah on Tuesday, Nov. 21.&nbsp;

Spectrum SportsNet will serve as the exclusive regional broadcast home for Lakers basketball for the 12th consecutive season. Additionally, all games can be heard on the team’s flagship radio station, 710 AM ESPNLA, and in Spanish on KWKW 1330 AM.&nbsp;

Lakers tickets are scheduled to go on sale to the public on Friday, Aug. 25, via Ticketmaster.&nbsp;

The Los Angeles Lakers’ 2023-24 regular season schedule is presented by Delta Air Lines, the official airline of the Lakers. In addition to in-game signage and the Delta Sky360° Club at Crypto.com Arena, Delta and the Lakers have partnered in outreach efforts to the Los Angeles community, including the annual ‘Salute to Our Troops’ program.&nbsp;

The Lakers’ entire 2023-24 schedule can be found at Lakers.com/schedule.&nbsp;

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Lakers Announce 2023-24 Season Schedule, Presented by Delta Air Lines

Game Time Update: The start time for the preseason game on 10/15 at Crypto.com Arena has been moved to 4pm PT.&nbsp; The start time for the game on 1/17/24 at Crypto.com Arena has been moved to 5:30pm PT