The Los Angeles Lakers were back on the practice court in an organized fashion, with the media invited to attend, for the first time after the tragic death of Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven other people in a helicopter crash on Sunday. But the players, understandably, were not ready to speak to reporters only 72 hours removed from the news of the tragedy that has shaken the basketball world.
Head coach Frank Vogel spoke for the team on Wednesday afternoon at the team’s practice facility in front of reporters in a media session that was televised live by Spectrum SportsNet and NBA TV. After an opening statement where he extended his condolences to the victims from the Lakers organization and fielded questions about how the team is coping with the tragedy.
Reports surfaced that LeBron James had told the team and staff members that he would try to put the team on his back, but Vogel downplayed those reports to reporters in attendance on Wednesday and instead focused on how the team wants to represent themselves from this point forward.
“We want to represent what Kobe was about, more than anything,” Vogel told reporters. “We’ve always wanted to make him proud and that’s not going to be any different here.”
Vogel also said that the Lakers approach, in which Vogel often consults with LeBron James and Anthony Davis on how to handle the team’s schedule, has not changed.
“The same way they have throughout the year. We’ve collaborated with them on what the next few days should look like,” Vogel told reporters. “They’ve been vocal in just helping the group manage their emotions and get through this.”
The Lakers will play again on Friday against the Portland Trail Blazers. While players conventionally talk after games, Vogel made it clear that the Lakers players will speak to the media when they are ready and “not before.”
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