Lakers News: Latest Buzz on Kobe Bryant, Nick Young and More
The Los Angeles Lakers' quest for redemption begins Tuesday at the Staples Center in the team's regular-season opener against the Houston Rockets. Needless to say, there's no shortage of buzz surrounding this team right now.
As we await the return of Kobe Bryant and a new-look team, several NBA insiders have taken to the Web to relay updated news and speculation prior to the start of the 2014-15 season. So, what's being said about a team looking to rebound from its worst season in franchise history?
Here's some of the latest and greatest Lakers news from trusted sources around the Internet.
The Return of Kobe Bryant
The enigmatic Bryant returns to regular-season action Tuesday against the Rockets after playing just six games last season. This year marks the NBA veteran's 19th NBA season, and there's ongoing debate over exactly how much this legend has left in the tank.
For one, Bryant is surrounded by many new faces. His mentor role with Jeremy Lin has made several headlines throughout the offseason, and that led to some high praise from general manager Mitch Kupchak during an interview with TWCSportsNet, via LakersNation.com.
Said Kupchak: "I think he can make the All-Star team. I think he'll have the ability to score when he wants to score. I think he'll be a great leader. His voice will be heard. He won't be like he was 15 years ago—that wiry, springy, try to dunk the ball every time—but you won't notice it."
Bryant will have plenty of opportunities to score—for the most part. The veteran's playing time has been cause for some buzz, and head coach Byron Scott didn't exactly give a clear answer when asked about his star's on-court time, via Bleacher Report's Kevin Ding:
While it certainly looks like Bryant is ready to go, and he'll be given enough time to produce at a high level, some analysts just aren't buying the hype over his return. One such person is former NBA great Charles Barkley. Here's what he had to say, via Richard Deitsch of Sports Illustrated:
It'll be quite some time before we know if Barkley's speculation will come to fruition, but one thing is for certain: There's a lot to like about this year's Lakers team and they could end up being a nice surprise.
Nick Young's Recovery
Young figures to be a pivotal component for the Lakers this season; however, things didn't exactly get off to a great start for the eighth-year player due to a thumb injury suffered in practice that forced him to miss plenty of work over the offseason.
Mike Trudell of Lakers.com tweeted the expectations for Young this season:
Unfortunately, with a big cast on his shooting hand, he won't be able to log big minutes in the near future. Although, we did receive some good news on Monday. Young took a giant step in the right direction, announcing via Instagram that his cast was removed:
Young isn't exactly ready to jump back into the fray just yet, but this news comes with a huge sigh of relief for a depleted Lakers team.
Jeremy Lin to Start
With veteran Steve Nash out for the season due to ongoing struggles with various injuries, Los Angeles is calling upon Lin to start against his former team in Tuesday's opener, according to Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times.
Lin remained humorous and humble about getting the start during an interview with Bresnahan: "I guess it is a little ironic, but I'm trying not to build this game up into anything, make it any bigger than it is. The headline is 'Kobe [Bryant] vs. Dwight [Howard],' all right?" He added, "Well, really, I'm just the starter, I feel like, because I'm healthy."
Here's a bit more on what Lin had to say regarding his impending matchup, via LakersTV:
Since he was dealt to the Lakers over the offseason, Lin has been attached to Bryant's hip. He's been soaking up every piece of knowledge and veteran information he can. He's making a push to get better in a hurry, and he'll get a great chance to prove it when he shares the backcourt with Bryant on Tuesday.
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