The atmosphere around the Los Angeles Lakers training camp has been immaculate. LeBron James and Bronny have stayed after practice. The mostly stable group has noticed greater synergy under the era of JJ Redick. As much as the practice methods set a tone, the Purple and Gold added a fresh addition to enhance the facility. At the request of the King, they added DJ Meel to their roster.

The Cleveland native has curated a top-notch list of clients since entering the music industry. Having worked with James in the past, he is aware of his tendencies. One of them is him arriving before everybody else. It didn’t change on the third day of the Lakers training camp as James began his warm-up at 8 AM. “He was early as usual,” he wrote on his Instagram stories.

To get him into the groove, DJ Meel decided to play 2 MIllion Up by Peezy. Following the beat of the music, LeBron James did some “pre-practice” warmup on the exercise bike that he shared with his 159 million followers.

In terms of his mood, even though he has experienced 21 training camps in the past, this one hits a little differently. Despite Drake’s recent unfollowing on Instagram, he is high-spirited. The obvious reason is the addition of his elder son, Bronny James. “It’s pure joy, to be honest, to be able to come to work every day, put in the hard work with your son every day, and be able to see him continue to grow,” he said during the Lakers media day.

And their competition is already bringing out the competitive juices within both of them. Anthony Davis first noted it as the duo went through a charging sequence. Bronny nailed two consecutive threes, one over his father. That naturally provoked the Akron Hammer and the defender who was “bullied” felt the brunt of it. 

LeBron James and the Lakers enter a new era

A lot of unprecedented unfoldings have happened within the Lakers. Apart from the father-son tandem, the hiring of JJ Redick, a rookie head coach, raised eyebrows. In the wake of such bold changes, James is taking his time to assess the Lakers. “I don’t have any expectations,” he said, entering his 22nd season.

It doesn’t mean that championship aspirations have dissolved. James and the Lakers are simply adapting to the changing landscape and refreshing philosophies of Redick. Having not spoken much during the offseason, the King, in particular, feels they are learning on the go and trying to establish a coherent unit.

But the head coach hasn’t minced any words when speaking of his plans. He wants his contingent to be active and display tenacity on both ends of the floor. To do that, the word “efficiency” has been introduced. To achieve that, Redick has made pivotal changes to the offseason plans to develop connectivity and chemistry within the Lakers.

The workouts feature a lot of live basketball motions that breed healthy competition within the group. Another one of his new philosophies is a 9-man rotation, as opposed to the typical 10-man. Likewise, with a reduced spot, the energy within the camp has been enlightening as the Lakers try to navigate the last phase of LeBron James’ illustrious career.

It’s too soon to place them as contenders or even failures. There is no history to judge how JJ Redick will be fair in an NBA setting. All there is now is that the players have welcomed the practice sessions well. James feels it’s more “detail-oriented” and upheld his former podcast partner’s methods.

The least that can be warranted thus far is a revolutionized mindset. Rather than relying on just Davis and James, Redick has prioritized development. He is particularly impressed with Maz Christie and the impact he can bring to the Purple and Gold this season. The air is uplifting within the Lakers camp.

But do you think it will benefit them when the season comes up in a few weeks? Let us know what you think in the comments below.