League trains pros
By Eric Boyum
Summer Forty-Niner
This summer’s playground
for pro basketball players, coaches and referees has brought new faces
to The Pyramid. However, few are as recognizable as the new Los Angeles
Laker’s Head Coach Phil Jackson.
In his first coaching
stint since winning six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls, Jackson
has been teaching his young Laker team how to run the famed triangle offense
during the Fila Summer Pro League.
Absent from league
are all of the Laker’s starters, although it should be noted that Kobe
Bryant did play in the league in 1997. The Lakers, who looked lost running
its offense during the strike-shortened season last year, may want to take
what some to the newest Lakers are doing to heart. Especially since some
of the Laker’s starters seem to lack it.
However, a few Lakers
are attempting to learn the triangle offense, which was designed by former
Long Beach State basketball head coach Tex Winter — who brought the system
to Jackson and Chicago’s championship teams in the late 80’s.
Among them is 1998
first-round selection Sam Jacobson (guard/forward), who saw limited playing
in his first year after leading the University of Minnesota to the NCAA
Final Four in 1997. Jacobson collected 18 points in his first game under
instruction of the triangle offense as he was paired with this year’s first-round
draft choice Devean George (forward) out of Division III Augsburg College
in Minnesota.
George, who originally
signed at the tiny Division III school to play point guard when he was
only 6-foot-2, enhanced his chances of being drafted by an NBA team by
growing six inches in two years. Now, George is much stronger and more
physical at 6-foot-8 as he fights to earn a roster spot with the Lakers.
"The Fila Summer
Pro League is a great opportunity for promising young players to be seen
by the right people," said Jerry West, executive vice president of the
Lakers.
Another Laker currently
participating in the summer league is Tyronn Lue — who saw action in more
than 20 NBA games last season coming off the bench at point guard. Lue
is one of the quickest and most exciting playmakers currently playing in
the league.
The Los Angeles Clippers
are still awaiting the arrival of this year’s No. 4 overall draft selection,
6-foot-10 forward Lamar Odom. Vice President of Basketball Operations Elgin
Baylor selected Odom after losing out on UCLA point guard Baron Davis —
who was taken No. 3 overall by the Charlotte Hornets. Baylor said he believes
Odom, who left Rhode Island University after his sophomore year, is ready
for the NBA.
"We think he [Odom]
is ready to play basketball and can play multiple positions," Baylor said.
Odom is scheduled
to participate in the summer league but is currently not under contract
with the Clippers and is seeking an agent, said John Nicoletti, president
of Nicoletti Communications who is representing the Fila Summer Pro League.
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