The Los Angeles Lakers commenced their training camp on Tuesday with a renewed emphasis on competition as the franchise enters a transitional phase ahead of the upcoming NBA season. The team has undergone significant changes, with six of last season’s top nine players no longer on the roster. Over the course of a month’s worth of practices and five preseason games, players will vie to secure their playing time and roster spots.
Center Walker Kessler, making his official practice debut with the Lakers, prioritized the competitive intensity over individual statistics, noting the team’s collective effort during the session. Coach JJ Redick underscored the merit-based approach to playing time, explaining, “You got to earn your minutes, and you cheer for your teammates while you’re doing it.”
Redick has already identified three starters with confidence: Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Kessler. The remaining two starting positions, as well as the final roster spots, remain open as the Lakers prepare to trim their squad to the NBA maximum of 15 players ahead of the Oct. 21 season opener. The competitive spirit was echoed by forward Sandro Mamukelashvili, who highlighted the drive among his teammates to prove themselves.
Mamukelashvili, valued for his versatility and described by Redick as “a connector” on offense, is competing for the power forward position against Jake LaRavia, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Ziaire Williams. The competition is particularly fierce on the wing, where offseason acquisitions Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton, Matisse Thybulle, Williams, rookie Cameron Carr, and second-year forward Adou Thiero are all contending for minutes.
Redick has focused on assigning clear roles to players during practice and praised the defensive intensity and physicality displayed by the team on the opening day. “There was a lot of physicality, a lot of grabbing and holding, a lot of disruption without gambling,” the coach said, noting that the players “understood the assignment.”
General Manager Rob Pelinka engineered the roster rebuild to complement the core of 27-year-old Doncic and 28-year-old Reaves. Redick noted the youthful group's eagerness and receptivity to coaching, with even non-participating players actively engaging with the staff.
As he enters his third season as head coach, Redick expressed satisfaction with the players’ engagement and noted his personal evolution in teaching and leadership since taking over the team two years ago. Last season’s roster featured vocal veterans like LeBron James and Marcus Smart, but the current group includes only one player over 30—30-year-old Kevon Looney—who embraced his newfound role as the team’s elder statesman.
The coaching staff also experienced a notable change this offseason with the retirement of longtime assistant coach Bob Beyer. Redick reflected on Beyer’s impact, both personally and professionally, calling him “an incredible teacher” and “a legend.” Beyer, 64, had served as a mentor to many young coaches and was instrumental in Redick’s transition to head coach. Though the retirement was unexpected late in the offseason, Redick expressed understanding and gratitude for Beyer’s contributions to the team.
The Lakers now look to build cohesion and identify contributors as they prepare for a season that promises significant opportunities for their reconfigured roster.