The Los Angeles Lakers will have at least 10 new players on this year’s team. But, some already have experience playing with the organization. One of the players who are returning to Los Angeles after a few years hiatus is NBA veteran Kent Bazemore.
Bazemore spent the second part of the 2013-14 season with the Lakers. He was acquired by them, along with MarShon Brooks, from the Golden State Warriors at the trade deadline in exchange for Steve Blake.
Bazemore played well in his stint with the team, averaging 13.1 points with 3.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. The team wasn’t very good, though, as Los Angeles went 7-16 with him in the lineup.
This time around, he is hoping to win a lot more in the purple and gold. The Lakers have a strong roster with a Big 3 of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook.
LATEST NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Carmelo Anthony Speaks Out On Role With Los Angeles Lakers
Recently, Bazemore shared some praise for Westbrook and what he could bring to the team this upcoming season. He is excited to be sharing the court with him.
“Russ an animal, he’s an animal in every sense of the word, just an absolute beast,” Bazemore said after Friday’s practice. “The force he plays with, the swagger he brings to the team when he’s on the floor, all those things. His energy is infectious, and feeding off of it is amazing. I think he’s going to be an absolute force for us all season.”
That kind of energy is something the Lakers could certainly use more of. At times last season, it looked as if the team was uninterested in playing, just going through the motions.
LATEST NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Carmelo Anthony Speaks Out On Role With Los Angeles Lakers
Injuries were a part of that occurring. But, this season, Bazemore is expecting Westbrook’s energy and attitude to be something that lights a fire under them.
“The energy he brings every night is going to be pivotal for us with the long season. Maybe some nights we’ll be in a city, low energy and here comes Russ storming down the middle with a dunk to get us going,” Bazemore said. “That’s kind of the intangibles he has as a player, as a person that is going to help us a lot this year.”
Things haven’t gone according to plan yet for Russell Westbrook, who struggled in the postseason. While he was singled out by some outlets, the entire team struggled, as they went 0-6 in exhibition games.
Being on his fourth team in as many years, a few poor performances in the preseason isn’t going to change how people look like him. Once the Lakers are using consistent lineups, things should start clicking for them on the court.
