New faces on Lakers media day

At the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo, the media were given two hours to freely interview players about the upcoming season as a part of the annual Los Angeles Lakers’ media day.

Long-time veterans like Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash were at the event, but many of the reporters were quick to speak to new additions to Los Angeles Carlos Boozer and Jeremy Lin.

Boozer denounced that he is “washed up.”  He talked about his rigorous workout regime this past summer, and he said believes he has much to offer the team this season.

“People think I got nothing left in the tank,” Boozer said. “But I got a full tank in my tank, and I’m looking forward to proving that.”

Lin was pressed about the phenomenon of “Linsanity” when he played for the New York Knicks. His response was always the same: he laughed and asked for the next question.  Lin was also asked whether he and Kobe have talked about “ball sharing.” Lin said that he will respect Kobe and that it’s not healthy for him to want the ball all the time.

The veterans, on the other hand have been through this exercise many times before.

Bryant, a 19-year veteran, emphasized that he feels undeniably healthy and positive for this upcoming season. He said he recognizes that the 2013-2014 season wasn’t his or the team’s best (he only played 6 games last season), and that he will be retiring soon.

Steve Nash said he felt confident that he could help bring the team to the playoffs this season.  For the past few months, Nash said he’s been consistently working out twice a day and is happy about the team’s increase of “shooters” to assist him.

Nash and Lin both played point guard in former coach Mike D’Antoni’s up-tempo offense—Nash when he was with the Phoenix Suns, and Lin when he was with the New York Knicks.

Jordan Hill recently signed a two-year, $18 million deal with the Lakers. He was asked if either he or Bryant would win in a one-on-one game. Hill laughed and said he would.

Young stuck around longer than most. Media day interviews lasted from 4-6 p.m.; well after the event, Young lingered and talked to reporters and anyone else who stopped by.