Lakers Media Day Summary: James talks about retirement, Doncic talks about integration, Ayton faces huge pressure

Translator's note: The original text was published in TheAthletic, and the data in the text were as of the time of publication (September 30th local time). The dates and times involved are all local time. The views in the article have nothing to do with the translator and the platform.

If those sleepy reporters dragged heavy steps into the team training hall, sat down and listened to the clichés of various "I'm in my best in my career" and "I've been polishing my skills all summer", you can forgive them.

Although the Lakers always have a lot of big storylines - they always seem to be like this - Media Day is just Media Day after all, saying more, doing less, and usually not the kind of activity that requires you to take out your phone immediately as soon as you arrive.

But this may be a glimpse of the future trends of the Lakers, albeit insignificant. The team made some new attempts, creating a place in its training hall that looks like a temple and is suitable for Instagram check-in, with a set of lockers showing the team's new uniforms, and the walls are decorated with photos of past and present players. This is a way of promoting the Lakers brand, which teams rarely did in the past because they didn’t have to do, and the brilliant history is enough to push it forward.

However, over the past few years, a large number of new external voices have been added to the team, coupled with the future financial freedoms that will be brought about by a portion of the equity deal (not yet completed) sold to Mark Walter, which has inspired everyone's creativity.

The Lakers are injecting more wisdom and capital into their brand, which is undoubtedly a noteworthy trend. Maybe it's not a big deal, but it's not insignificant.

And on Media Day, this is probably the most valuable thing you can get. Fortunately, we can distil every press conference of the 14 Lakers players into one of the most prominent ideas to tell you what you have to know in this day full of content that can be skipped.

Luca Doncic

"I think I had a great summer."

New early contract renewal, new body shape, new beachfront residence, new team, new opportunities - If you are Doncic, what reason is there to be unhappy? The news from the Lakers Training Hall on Monday was that he was extremely easy to get along with and was willing to do anything he needed to do. It's obvious that he's happy to join the Lakers, a huge shift from when he was shockingly traded to Los Angeles by the Mavericks. He seemed to be completely at ease to tie his future to the Lakers.

LeBron James

"I don't know when the end is, but I know it's not far from now."

We have never been closer to LeBron James' retirement than today (we'll be closer to the day tomorrow). Over the past few years, we have heard James discuss the end of his basketball career more and more frequently, but this time it feels a little different. Perhaps it's because he's in the final year of his current contract with the Lakers. Maybe it's because the 23rd season itself has some poetry. Or maybe the end is really not far away.

DeAndre Ayton "Super pressure is an honor."

Ayton repeated this sentence, and there may not be any Lakers player under greater pressure than their center. After being bought out, he made it clear on Monday that he knew the next step in his career would be entirely up to him. Is he a player with the talent of the No. 1 pick but lacking motivation, or is he a player who has not yet found a chance to reshape himself in an ideal environment? Yes, there is a big stake in it, but it’s obvious that Ayton is happy to face it all.

Marcus Smart

"That thing has not been discussed."

In answering questions about what role will be played on the Lakers' offensive end, Smart said this, which also reminds us why he is on this team. As the best defensive player of the year two years ago, Smart now returns to a highly-watched team, with all his attention on the defensive end and only trying to help the team win.

Hamura Hachimura

"This is just a question of chemical reaction."

Hamura Hachimura was asked like Smart whether he prefers starting or playing as a substitute. Although Smart said he is willing to do anything, Hachimura Hachimura's answer was more direct. Although he said he would accept any decision, he stated his reasons for staying in the starting lineup as he invested a lot of time to build chemistry with Austin Reeves, James and Doncic. JJ Redick said last week that he did not consider it much - a point that Lakers fans may not agree with.

Austin Reeves

"I don't know why a series can change all this."

Reeves talked about his fit with Doncic and the Lakers, which has been under rigorously scrutinized since the Lakers lost to the Timberwolves in five-game series. Reeves' future in the Lakers is somewhat uncertain. He will receive a big free agent offer this summer, but the argument against the Lakers giving him a big contract stems mainly from those five games against the Timberwolves. For him, it was just an accidental sign of abnormality. We will see if he is suitable for the Lakers now.

Jack Laravia

"It is our responsibility to shoot those goals."

Laravia's self-knowledge should give him the lead in integrating into the team because he demonstrated his willingness to integrate into the team. Part of the job is to do small things on the defensive end, part of it is to stand up and perform well when limited opportunities arise. But on the offensive end, the most important job is to be ready to step up and hit the shot.

Jared Vanderbilt

"It's great to have a full summer."

The Lakers have a young, defensive wing player. After nearly two seasons missing due to injury, it’s easy to forget Vanderbilt and his place on this team. But the news from the Lakers Training Hall was that after dealing with ongoing foot problems, he regained some confidence and athleticism and had an impressive summer.

Gab Vincent

"The message conveyed is similar, but I think, I think, I am frank, everyone may have reached a consensus on expectations."

According to Vincent, the best thing is that the "hard bones, more hard than you" team culture established by the Lakers last season has been continued. Like Smart, he knows his influence will be mainly reflected in the defensive end and he will be seen as one of the key figures in the Lakers' change of the situation.

Jaxson Hayes "(I) gained some weight this summer so they could use me in different ways."

Hayes admitted that he has been thin and through his weight gain this summer, he hopes to add a new dimension to his game on the defensive end, which is what is very needed in this team's roster. With him and Ayton, the Lakers might have a real pick-and-roll center, and between these two, especially if Hayes can make good use of his size, they might have the inside presence that the team really lacked last season.

Maxi Cleber

"I feel completely recovered, completely healthy."

At best, Cleber is a key player who can win the next round with a shot or a right decision. However, the injury left him unable to reach his best for a while. He will enter the final year of his contract with a healthy body, when he has no excuses, and the Lakers will take this opportunity to see if he still has oil in his tank.

Dalton Kneckett "I have to play next season's playoffs."

Kneckett admitted that he was a little overtraining after his rookie season, and he immediately devoted himself to high-intensity training, trying to ensure that he could play an important role in the playoffs in the new season. This decision led to his exhaustion during the summer league, a classic example of a player doing bad things well and failing to fully anticipate the consequences. As Kneckett enters sophomore, the Lakers will need him to continue learning lessons and putting what he has learned into practice.

Brownny James "just work hard."

The star of last year's media day, Brownie James, did not make any bold statements. He is about to enter his second season, more as a potential contributor than a source of interference from gossip. His rookie season was full of positives that were enough to build confidence, which made a difference for a player who was popular within the team because of his athleticism and attitude.

Adu Tiero

"I still have a long career in front of me." The Lakers rookie said that he would not play at the beginning of training camp due to some swelling of his knees. The start of his NBA career was disappointing after the Lakers traded their draft picks up and finally picked him at the 36th pick. But the team needs him to stay healthy for a long time rather than rushing for a moment, so it is wise that everyone is patient.