Training camp for the 2023-24 NBA season is slowly but surely approaching, and while there is plenty of time before it begins, it’s time for players to start ramping up their training and preparation.
That’s especially true for the Los Angeles Lakers, who are hoping to win their 18th world championship next summer. They magically remade what was a broken roster in January and February, and now they’re aiming for the sky rather than just trying to tread water.
Los Angeles took Maxwell Lewis, a 6-foot-7 forward out of Pepperdine University, with the No. 40 pick in June’s draft. It’s hard to say if he will get any meaningful playing time as a rookie, but nonetheless, it’s time for him to prepare as if the team will be relying on him.
Here are three summer goals for the incoming rookie.
Work on 3-point shooting
Lewis is thought to have some serious 3-and-D potential, and while he showed flashes of promise as a knockdown outside shooter at Pepperdine, he shot just 35.4 percent from downtown in his two seasons there.
Outside shooting has been a weakness for the Lakers for a while, and even though they have improved in that department, they could still use more help. If Lewis ever develops as a sniper, he can open up the floor for LeBron James and Anthony Davis, among others.
Develop defensively
In NBA Summer League a few weeks ago, Lewis was basically a non-factor, as he seemed passive offensively and didn’t do much on the other end of the floor.
With a seven-foot wingspan and ample athleticism, he should have the ability to become a standout on defense — if he wants to.
Scouts have felt he can be a disruptor, not just in terms of getting steals and blocks, but also in terms of being an effective positional defender.
What Lakers head coach Darvin Ham will likely want to see from Lewis is consistent defensive focus and effort. There are some that felt the 21-year-old didn’t always display those qualities in college.
Get obsessed
This is just the start of Lewis’ pro career, and he is basically a wet ball of clay that could be molded into a beautiful piece of art.
If he hasn’t already, he needs to connect with some high-level trainers and coaches that can help him become the best he can be. It would also help if he sets the bar extremely high for himself and doesn’t merely become content with being in the NBA and with the Lakers.
Perhaps Lewis should study videos of Michael Cooper, the standout on the Lakers of the 1980s who was an integral part of their five world championships. Cooper was the league’s first 3-and-D player, and he knew how to get under the skin of opposing players he was guarding. When he was young, he was also a fantastic finisher who could throw down lob passes with a bang.
