All Are Watching Their Style, but Lakers Seek Substance

By Kevin Ding - Senior Writer

Quintessential LeBron James it was, the blend of power and speed making it a mystery to discern which attribute was more impressive. Emerging from under those banners and jerseys in purple and gold high above that side of the court, James set into motion his first signature moment in his new home.

The power was such that four-time All-Star Paul Millsap—a man of comparable size with a resume of 87 career playoff appearances—quietly took the easy way out and veered next to Lakers guard Alex Caruso on the left wing rather than try to stop James with the ball. Denver’s Malik Beasley also saved himself; he flung himself out of the way of the train, apparently under the guise of filling a possible passing lane on the right side near the Lakers’ Kyle Kuzma.

The speed was such that it mattered not how many steps of a head start in transition defense Denver forward Juancho Hernangomez had. He fell behind long before James quickly wiped his right hand on his jersey in preparation for taking the ball aloft. Casual Lakers fans who know of the legend but haven’t seen much of James’ work first-hand in an Eastern Conference career might’ve been surprised that Monte Morris, a 23-year-old point guard furiously pumping his arms with the righteous hustle of a fringe NBA player, did not come close to making up the ground behind someone of James’ size.

LeBron James Pregame

As James’ left-foot catapult shot him up out of that purple-painted lane, his new teammates on the Lakers’ bench nearby rose alongside him to enjoy the ride. And when the right-hand dunk went down with more than three minutes left in the first quarter, it’s safe to say James had already met the expectations of the most anticipated Lakers preseason game in STAPLES Center’s 19 years.

It was James’ artistry on his new canvas, exactly the sort of forward fashion that everyone excited about LeBron as a Laker has been deliriously eager to celebrate.

It is fun, yes, and it does feel rather poetic to consider that great Lakers player Jerry West brought great Lakers player Kobe Bryant to town and now great Lakers player Magic Johnson has brought James.

It’s just that for this revamped Lakers team, all that style and flair and look-it’s-LeBron chatter has to be far secondary to real substance. Just has to.

Accordingly, the training-camp priorities for Lakers coach Luke Walton have been decidedly unglamorous: physicality, defense, communication and selflessness.

“We know it’s all about setting the foundation now,” Walton said. “The meat of our practice is the same every day. That eats up 90 percent of what we do.”

Can there be a healthy balance between being able to revel in the circus that James’ greatness brings and being utterly dedicated to better basketball? There must be.

“Championship habits every day,” James said. “Not only on the floor but off the floor.”

“For us,” said Kuzma, the unabashed style trendsetter on this team, “it’s all about having consistency.”