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sports
Laker
rookies excite fans
By Adrienne Figueroa
Summer On-line Forty-Niner
The Los Angeles
Lakers’ defeat of the Memphis Grizzlies was the main event
at the Pyramid Sunday, kicking off day one of the Summer Pro
League and drawing a crowd of over 5,000 to Cal State Long
Beach.
Spectators who arrived hoping to catch a glimpse of Shaquille
O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher, Robert Horry and Rick Fox
may have been surprised to see a whole new set of purple and
gold jerseys on a whole new set of players. This does not
mark a permanent change to the team’s roster, but an opportunity
for second-year players, rookies, draft picks and members
of other basketball leagues to practice their skills.
Twenty-two year old David Orozco, first-time attendee of the
summer event, was excited to see the exhibition of new talent.
“I’m here to see upcoming players…like some of the draft picks,”
the Torrance resident said.
Sixth grade teacher Michael Hartman, a spectator who flew
from the Monterey area to watch his friend play at a game
later in the evening, highlighted the positive effects of
the Summer Pro League on its participants.
“It brings all the young talent together and lets them see
where they stand,” he said.
Although many of the faces on the court were new and unfamiliar,
not all of them were completely unrecognized. Regular season
Lakers Jelani McCoy and Mark Madsen were present, scoring
11 and seven points, respectively.
In participating in the Summer Pro League, Madsen said that
he aims to prioritize “the ability to step out and make that
jump shot.”
This goal became evident in the fourth quarter, when the Stanford
graduate successfully executed a three-point shot with close
to six minutes left in the game, bringing the crowd to their
feet.
Newly-acquired Laker Kareem Rush spoke of his amazement in
learning about his place on the team’s 2002-2003 roster and
joked about stories regarding head coach Phil Jackson’s stance
on first-year players.
“[People have said] Phil Jackson don’t like rookies. He’ll
break you down,” the University of Missouri graduate said,
laughing.
Entering his third season with the Lakers this year, Madsen
said that he has enjoyed partaking in the Summer Pro League
at the Pyramid.
“It feels great,” he said. “Fans down here are fantastic and
there’s a lot of enthusiasm in this arena.”
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