There was lively music playing over the Lakers’ arena’s speakers. Coach Darvin Ham and general manager Rob Pelinka were grinning and laughing as they sat down to begin their team’s upcoming season informally.

Their roster elicited few questions. A day after the news broke, the NBA was still being shaken by the repercussions of the Damian Lillard trade, so there was no move that would rock the foundation.

In a manner, the Lakers’ executives were at the team headquarters on Thursday to celebrate their summer plans, which they carried out rather quickly and amicably.

Tuesday marks the start of training camp, which comes one day after players take turns speaking on camera at media day. After making it to the Western Conference finals the previous season, the squad is undoubtedly among the favorites to win the championship going into this one.

“You’re just existing if there are no expectations placed upon you,” Ham remarked. “I wish to survive. It was those expectations that drew me here.

As the squad gathered for summer workouts over the past month, excitement has been growing inside the Lakers’ practice gym behind closed doors.

LeBron James hosted a minicamp in San Diego last weekend, and every player on the roster showed up in full.

After the Lakers’ 4-0 conference finals loss to Denver, James made his last public appearance as a Laker and publicly questioned his basketball mortality. This led to the build-up to the season.

However, Pelinka claimed to have witnessed James rekindle his flame this summer.

Pelinka remarked, “It’s astounding for a player who is training for his 21st birthday like he’s a rookie and has 20 years under his belt already.”

He’s been working out at six in the morning. Likely spent more time in our building than any other athlete during the offseason. More time spent in the weight room than any other player. LeBron has always set the tone for the squad he plays for with his work ethic. Nothing except an increase in that has been observed here. Let’s just get it done and stop talking about it, in my opinion. Without a doubt, he has been focused this offseason. His meticulous preparation and intense work ethic truly lift the morale of our entire company.

Anthony Davis has also had a successful offseason, with coaches talking about his improved jumper after minicamp and his increasing use of different training techniques, like as boxing. He renewed his contract with the Lakers earlier this summer, this time for $186 million, which will keep him with the team until the 2027–2028 campaign.

“It was a pleasure working with Darvin when AD asked for the extension. “We want to commit to you, but we also want you to commit to us,” was the overarching theme. Developing into a leader and being the hardest worker was one of the things we discussed with him in that conversation, and he truly accomplished that this summer, according to Pelinka. “.. He has assumed the role of leader, and I believe he understands that the franchise will get its money back from him when it makes an investment in him, as we did this summer. That’s just the way he is. That is Anthony Davis’s identity. And that excites us to watch.

With the selection of D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves as his starting backcourt, Ham helped to dispel some of the slight uncertainty that existed before the season. He stated that he anticipates the team arriving at camp in perfect health.