NEWCOMERS HAVE ARRIVED

Russell, Nance and Brown say they are

here and ready to help restore the Lakers

Glory. Each lad seems to really have

respect and praise for our Kobe Bryant.

Yes, and as the daily newspaper tells us,

our future is looking far brighter now.

These players were introduced on Monday

at a news conference in El Segundo.

Three days after Russell became the Lakers

highest draft choice in 33 years, he was

formally introduced at their training complex

along with fellow picks Larry Nance Jr., and 

Anthony Brown. All three rookies are in high

hopes that they will be bringing a reboot 

for a proud franchise coming off its' worst

season. Both Russell and Nance have

already spoken to Bryant, the 5 time

NBA Champion who will be returning in
the fall to play for at least one more season.

Russell seems to have already been reflecting on 

his new mentor's ethos when he has emphasized

his mental toughness and determination. These

of course are two attributes that Bryant has constantly

been defining here in Los Angeles. Russell states

he has always wished to learn from the best & to just

keep on working and grinding. We all wish these

young fellows the very best and look forward to

be watching them play on our Laker team this fall.

BABS WELLS

WELL, LOOKS LIKE IT IS NOW DONE

A first lottery pick in exactly a decade.

First off is Minnesota and then came our

very own pick and trailing us was Philadelphia.

And so now we make a point of interest. D'Angelo

Russell gets a handshake from the NBA

Commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted

second overall by the Lakers yesterday.

Ohio State guard Russell is our choice 

with the number 2 pick. His words of

gratitude with emotions were sounded

with such zeal and he even began tearing

up a little bit. He made the statement

that "I just knew that now it was my time"

To say that our Lakers team felt the same

is worth repeating. Byron Scott (coach)

said that Russell is very 'special and
feels certain he was the best player

in the draft. Russell shot a 41 % from

a 3-point range as a freshman with

the Buckeyes. Reporters soon shared

Scott's words to Russell who (then) was

nearly 3,000 miles away.

The Lakers also drafted power forward

Larry Nance Jr. of Wyoming with their

second first-round pick (#27 overall).

And then they picked Stanford small

forward Anthony Brown  with their

second-round selection (# 34 overall).

For these young men now to become 

NBA Lakers is huge and crazy but to be 

able to gain that knowledge, they feel

"The sooner, the better".

We, the fans, wish them all the confidence

and good grace along with some luck

in the months to come.

BABS WELLS

MEANWHILE BACK AT THE RANCH

The Cavs' and the Warriors are in competition

right now for the NBA finals.WE, in Lakers land,

sit and watch these games with stars in our eyes

awaiting the Fall line-up for our own team to play.

See in the newspaper that NBA Laker Kobe Bryant 

is about to sell his California Newport Beach home.

Also note that former basketball Hall of Famer

Jerry West, just turned age 73.

Another footnote of interest is that Bill Foster,

the only Clemson basketball coach to reach the

NCAA tournaments Elite Eight, has died at the

age of 79. Foster coached at five Division 1

schools over 30 years. R.I.P. Bill Foster.

General Manager Mitch Kupchak stared 

intently at countless prospects that were

completing repetition drills. He followed

through with this ritual twice last week, as

the Lakers began hosting pre-draft workouts.

This week it seems to have been the same

for him. All of this work could ensure our

Lakers become familiar with the whole

landscape for the NBA Draft on June 25.

At that time they have the second pick 

with 27th. and 34th. overall picks.

The Lakers have yet to schedule a work-

out for the prospects they will be considering

with their #2 selection.

 However, the Lakers have watched plenty

of workouts for the players who may fall

in either with the 27th (or) the 34th picks.

Now it is just a waiting game for the rest

of us to play and be ever so hopeful about.

BABS WELLS