“Nobody’s at their best when they feel like they have to perform or they feel like they’re distracted by outside influences, and I don’t believe that with Justin at all. I think our defense is going to continue to improve. It’s fun to watch our young guys running around out there. Can our run defense improve? No doubt; we’re working on it. But I think our future, just like our program on defense is extremely bright.”

Read the writeup HERE.

Check out our highlights and interviews from the match in our recap video.

Defensive back Rhedi Short announced his commitment to UCLA on Thursday afternoon, becoming the third member of the Bruins’ 2017 class.

An unranked recruit, the 6-foot-1 safety had 21 tackles and two interceptions last fall as a sophomore at Los Angeles Cathedral — the same school that produced former UCLA defensive back Anthony Jefferson, an All-Pac-12 second-team selection in 2014.

Short joins linebackers Rahyme Johnson and Jaquan Henderson as the high school juniors who have already committed to UCLA.

Zach Lee is a two-time Branch Rickey minor league player of the year award winner. (Associated Press photo)

SAN FRANCISCO — Zach Lee and Alex Verdugo were named the Dodgers’ Branch Rickey minor league pitcher and player of the year, respectively, on Thursday.

Lee, 24, has appeared in 22 games this season — one with the Dodgers — with the majority coming at Triple-A. He also won the award in 2013.

Verdugo, 19, opened the season at Single-A Great Lakes and ended it at High-A Rancho Cucamonga.

Both players will be at Dodger Stadium on Friday to receive their award prior to the 7:10 p.m. game against the San Diego Padres. Here’s more from a Dodgers press release:

Lee, who turned 24 on September 13, was honored as the Dodgers’ Branch Rickey Minor League Pitcher of the Year for the second time (also: 2013) after ranking among the Pacific Coast League leaders (min. 100 IP) in wins (11, T-3^rd), ERA (2.70, 2^nd), WHIP (1.11, 1^st), strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.26, 3^rd) and allowed an average of only 0.40 home runs per nine innings (3^rd).

Lee opened the season very strong, going 5-3 with a 2.38 ERA (15 ER/56.2 IP) and posted an ERA under 3.00 in each of the season’s first two months with a 1.80 ERA (5 ER/25.0 IP) in four April starts and a 2.84 mark (10 ER/31.2 IP) in six May starts. He held opposing batters to a .257 average, while limiting the opposition to a .210 average with runners in scoring position throughout the season.

The Texas native made two stints with Los Angeles this season, including his Major League debut with his first career start against the New York Mets on July 25. Lee was selected with the 28^th overall pick in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft out of McKinney (Texas) High School.

Verdugo opened the season with Single-A Great Lakes in his second professional season, where he ranked among the team leaders in batting average (.295, 5^th), hits (124, 1^st), doubles (23, 2^nd), home runs (5, T-2^nd), RBI (42, 3^rd), total bases (163, 2^nd) and stolen base (13, 2nd) in 101 games. He had a season-high 14-game hitting streak from June 16-July 2 and batted a league-best .349 (66-for-189) with nine doubles, four home runs, 87 total bases, 20 RBI, seven stolen bases and a .832 OPS in 44 second-half games to earn a selection to the Midwest League’s Postseason All-Star Team.

Verdugo, who turned 19 on May 15, was promoted to Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on August 14 and helped lead the Quakes to a 2015 California League championship, its first title since 1994. He batted .385 (35-for-91) with nine doubles, two triples, four home runs and 19 RBI along with a .406 OBP and a .659 SLG in 23 games for the Quakes, while posting a .323 average (10-for-31) with a .400 OBP, a double, a homer and seven RBI in eight postseason games. On August 26, he hit for his first career cycle and finished the season with a seven-game hitting streak (September 1-7), while also being honored as the league’s Offensive Player of the week for the period August 31-September 7, batting .577 (15-for-26) with four doubles, two home runs and 10 RBI.

The Arizona native batted .311 (159-for-512) with 32 doubles, four triples, nine home runs and 61 RBI along with a .340 OBP and a .441 SLG in 124 combined games for the Loons and the Quakes. He was also exceptional in both levels with runners in scoring position, batting a combined .316 (37-for-117) with eight doubles and a triple. Verdugo was selected by the Dodgers in the second round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of Sahuaro High School in Arizona.

Branch Rickey Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Year: 1989-2015

Year       Player of the Year                                                                             Pitcher of the Year

1989       Mike Huff, Albuquerque (OF)                                                          Jim Poole, Vero Beach (LHP)

1990       Henry Rodriguez, San Antonio (OF)                                                Jamie McAndrew, Bakersfield/San Antonio (RHP)

1991       Eric Karros, Albuquerque (IB)                                                          Pedro Martinez, San Antonio/Albuquerque (RHP)

1992       Mike Piazza, San Antonio/Albuquerque (C)                                  Todd Williams, Bakersfield/San Antonio (RHP)

1993       Billy Ashley, Albuquerque (OF)                                                        Kip Gross, Albuquerque (RHP)

1994       Billy Ashley, Albuquerque (OF)                                                        Greg Hansell, Albuquerque (RHP)

1995       Adam Riggs, San Bernardino (IF)                                                    Gary Rath, San Antonio/Albuquerque (LHP)

1996       Paul Konerko, San Antonio/Albuquerque (IF)                              Billy Neal, Vero Beach (RHP)

1997       Paul Konerko, Albuquerque (IF)                                                      Dennys Reyes, San Antonio/Albuquerque (LHP)

1998       Angel Peña, San Antonio (C)                                                            Luke Prokopec, San Bernardino/San Antonio (RHP)

1999       Chin-Feng Chen, San Bernardino (OF)                                           Eric Gagné , San Antonio (RHP)

2000       Joe Thurston, San Bernardino (IF)                                                   Carlos Garcia, San Bernardino (RHP)

2001       Phil Hiatt, Las Vegas (IF)                                                                   Ricardo Rodriguez, Vero Beach (LHP)

2002       Joe Thurston, Las Vegas (IF)                                                            Edwin Jackson, South Georgia (RHP)

2003       Franklin Gutierrez, VB/Jacksonville (OF)                                       Greg Miller, Vero Beach/Jacksonville (LHP)

2004       Joel Guzman, Vero Beach/Jacksonville (OF)                                 Chad Billingsley, Vero Beach/Jacksonville (RHP)

2005       Andy LaRoche, Vero Beach/Jacksonville (IF)                              Chad Billingsley, Jacksonville (RHP)

2006       James Loney, Las Vegas (1B)                                                          Mark Alexander, Jacksonville/Las Vegas (RHP)

2007       Chin-lung Hu, Jacksonville/Las Vegas (IF)                                    James McDonald, Inland Empire/Jacksonville (RHP)

2008       Ivan De Jesus, Jr., Jacksonville (IF)                                                 James McDonald, Jacksonville/Los Angeles (RHP)

2009       Dee Gordon, Great Lakes (IF)                                                           Scott Elbert, Chattanooga/Albuquerque/Los Angeles (LHP)

2010       Jerry Sands, Great Lakes/Chattanooga (IF/OF)                            Rubby De La Rosa, Great Lakes/Chattanooga (RHP)

2011       Scott Van Slyke, Chattanooga (IF/OF)                                           Shawn Tolleson, Great Lakes/Rancho/Chattanooga (RHP)

2012       Joc Pederson, Rancho Cucamonga (OF)                                        John Ely, Albuquerque (RHP)

2013       Scott Schebler, Rancho Cucamonga (OF)                                      Zach Lee, Chattanooga (RHP)

2014       Joc Pederson, Albuquerque (OF)                                                      Julio Urias, Rancho Cucamonga (LHP)

                Corey Seager, Rancho Cucamonga/Chattanooga (IF)

2015       Alex Verdugo, Great Lakes/Rancho Cucamonga (OF)               Zach Lee, Oklahoma City (RHP)

Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) wagered gourmet popcorn from Pauline’s Premier Sweets in Burbank, befitting his district. Israel, who is a Mets fan representing areas surrounding Citi Field, wagered “New York bagels, flown in fresh.”

Additionally, the loser will wear the tie of the winner’s team and deliver a one minute speech on the House floor extolling the virtues of the team moving on to the next playoff round.

Here’s more from a press release today:

“There isn’t any question in my mind that the Boys in Blue will best the Loveable Losers, and I can already taste the delicious New York bagels that will be flown in the day the Mets blow it,” said Schiff. “I’m looking forward to seeing the Dodgers continue in their hunt for Blue October after the Mets are long vanquished. Please make sure the lox is fresh, Steve.”

“I hope that Adam will also consider sending a broom so that I can sweep his fancy L.A. popcorn off my floor in the same way my beloved Mets will sweep the Dodgers,” said Israel. “Let’s face it; once his team left New York, it was all downhill from there. Let’s go Mets!”

The last time the New York Mets met the Dodgers in the playoffs was during the 2006 National League Division Series, a meeting the Mets won 3 – 0, and the time before was during the 1988 National League Championship Series, which the Dodgers won 4 – 3. 1988 was the last year the Dodgers won the World Series. Schiff and Israel are friends in Congress, having both entered the House together in 2001.

And Saugus’ Emma Bahr delivered a courageous performance after collapsing near the finish line.

For the full story, click HERE.

Check out our video from the meet that includes highlights and videos.

35:26: Opponents’ time of possession.

Adoree Jackson said he wasn’t even going full speed during his 80-yard touchdown play against Arizona State.

“I try to make sure I don’t use my speed as much so I can lull you to sleep. When you think you got it, then I turn it on and get gone. That’s how I use it.”

Yasiel Puig is examined by Dodgers medical director Stan Conte after Puig strained his right hamstring in August. (Associated Press photo)

“Like three days ago he was running at 80 percent and having pain,” manager Don Mattingly said. “And then all of a sudden he’s going 100 percent and feels fine. It’s been a nice little surprise.”

Puig is running curved lines as well as straight lines.

“It’s been pretty miraculous, actually, for me,” Mattingly said. “Howie (Kendrick, who missed most of September with a strained hamstring) was at 80 to 90 and it stayed at 90 for like 10 days. Yas was able to go from 80 to almost 100. That’s almost legendary.”

The manager said the Dodgers’ staff hasn’t discussed Puig’s availability for the playoffs yet, but Puig has been able to do some work on defense in Glendale, Arizona. The next major step would be for him to regain his timing against major-league pitching.

One realistic scenario: Brett Anderson, who will make his final start of the regular season today, is expected to pitch a simulated game during the Dodgers’ four-day break following their final regular season game Sunday. Puig could return during that time period to face Anderson and gauge his readiness.

“We’re just getting there, moving forward from our end of it,” Mattingly said.

Puig is slashing .256/.324/.440 in 77 games this season. He’s made two separate trips to the disabled list because of hamstring strains.

“This year’s been — we’ve talked about it with a number of guys — when you have injuries you never really get into a rhythm,” Mattingly said. “The guy that’s able to go out there, like Adrian (Gonzalez), 140 to 150 times, there’s always a rhythm to that. The guy who plays 20, hurt, 15, hurt, it’s hard to get any rhythm. That’s really Yasiel’s season in a capsule. I don’t really feel like he’s gotten into any kind of rhythm this year where he’s just playing baseball.”

The Dodgers have used a fairly consistent outfield rotation in September. Justin Ruggiano (against left-handed pitchers) and Carl Crawford (against right-handers) have gotten the lion’s share of starts in left field. Kiké Hernandez and Joc Pederson have split duties in center. Andre Ethier (against righties) and either Scott Van Slyke or Chris Heisey (against lefties) have been the right fielders.

Adding Puig to the mix in right field could disrupt a roster that must be trimmed from 37 to 25 in time for the playoffs.

It’s an interesting (and potentially good) problem to have, and it’s one that seemed unlikely to present itself as recently as a few days ago.

“You concern yourself with all the guys, what anybody affects,” Mattingly said. “When you talk about setting your roster for the postseason, that affects guys. Your buddy may not be on it. A guy who’s been on (the active roster) the whole year may not be on it because you set it up differently. Anytime you set your roster, there’s some type of effect. Personally, I pay attention to it a lot because I feel it affects the dynamic of your clubhouse.

“Sometimes you can’t put a number on it. You can’t quantify it in any way. As a person that’s been in the clubhouse your whole career, you understand there is a dynamic there, what affects guys.”

Does anyone seriously believe USC will merely add three more players? Someone will probably get dropped. Someone might decommitment. If USC only adds one more wide receiver, Theo Howard of Westlake, that means six of the 20 players who are not blue shirts will be wide receivers.

And if you include blueshirts, seven of the 25 are wide receivers. If USC adds Howard and say, Freddie Swain, eight of the 25 are wide receivers. What is this a 7-on-7 sport?

Ka’imi Fairbairn has quietly become a very effective kickoff specialist. The UCLA senior has landed 23 of 29 of his kicks into the end zone this year — way up from 62.5 percent in 2014, and 50 percent the year before.

Still, the rest of the Bruins’ kickoff coverage team might want him to ease back now and then.

“I think if you ask those 10 guys that are running down there,” said head coach Jim Mora, “they’d like him every once in a while to not kick it through the end zone, so they could take a shot rather than just run a 60-yard dash.”

UCLA is one of the stingiest teams in the FBS when it comes to kickoff returns, helped in part by Fairbairn’s efficiency in forcing opponents to start drives on their own 25-yard line. The Bruins currently rank No. 3 in the FBS, allowing 12.83 yards per return, and was also top-20 in 2013.

“I think it’s scheme,” Mora said. “It’s attention to detail. More than anything, it’s just attitude. Those guys, it’s an honor to be on that team, the kickoff team.”

“I had to grow up fast. I had to learn plays, learn my role, what I have to do on the field . . . I feel improvement every day of the week,” Langley said.

Starter Mike Bolsinger was removed in the fourth inning of the Dodgers’ 5-0 loss to the San Francisco Giants. (Josie Lepe/Bay Area News Group)

Clayton Kershaw needs six strikeouts Sunday to become the first pitcher in 13 years to strike out 300 in a single season, but he’s voluntarily limiting his own chances of reaching the milestone.

The tournament will be held at Vaughn, Van Nuys and East Valley.

Cory is hoping for 24 teams and is almost there.

Cleveland
Newbury Park
Van Nuys
Monroe
Panorama
El Monte
Vaughn
Valley Academy
Northridge Academy
Fulton Prep
Sun Valley
East Valley
Middle College
Champs Charter
Lakeview Charter
Community Charter
Edgewood
North Valley Military Acad.
New West Charter

dcory@vaughncharter.com

Ventura posted a 25-14, 25-22, 25-17 victory over Thousand Oaks.

Taylor Fanslow led Thousand Oaks with seven kills. Danel Schilder had 13 digs, and Jenny Kent had 16 assists for Thousand Oaks (4-9).

Emily Burns recorded 15 kills to lead Valencia. Daniella Villano added 10 kills and 11 digs. Holly Pittman added nine kills, and Kelsey Knudsen totaled seven kills and 23 digs.

Rachel Perez finished with 39 assists, and Demi Dawson had 17 digs.

Village Christian posted a 25-17, 25-22, 25-20 victory over Maranatha behind a balanced attack.

Kyra Banko led Village Christian with 16 kills. Alexis Hamilton had 10 kills and six blocks, and Meghan Lacey also had 10 kills.

Selby Schnobrich contributed 34 assists and five blocks, and Ally Reyes chipped in five digs for Village Christian (6-1, 1-0).

Megan Davidson led the charge with eight kills for Van Nuys (11-14, 2-2).

Jazmine De La Cruz and Julia Romrell combined for 15 assists, and Audrey Pham had 13 digs for Van Nuys.

Everyone moved out of Julius Randle’s way, as the Lakers forward sprinted his way up the court eager to show something he could not for eleven painful months.

The Lakers were nearing the end of a 30-minute full-court scrimmage on Wednesday here at Stan Sheriff Center when a fast-break opportunity emerged. Before the defense had any time to set up, Randle cut into the lane. His teammate, Lou Williams, made eye contact. Then, Williams lofted up an alley-oop that Randle threw down with force.

This only marked the second day of the Lakers’ training camp. But those days have meant everything to Randle, who played only 14 minutes in his NBA rookie year before fracturing his right tibia and sitting out the rest of the season. Even when he healed enough to play in Summer League two months ago, Randle averaged only 20.5 minutes per game and sat out in a back-to-back. This time, the Lakers have released Randle’s handcuffs.

“It’s been good,” Randle said, a smile forming as he said those words. “It’s been a year. It was amazing.”

It remains understandable Randle would feel that way. But it still sounded amusing. After all, Randle had just completed a 2 1/2 hour practice filled with conditioning drills, shooting exercises and scrimmaging. The Lakers would then have a two-hour evening session. Who would have thought Randle would relish such physical torture?

“Yeah, that’s true,” Randle said, “especially after last year.”

Then, Randle looked winded after going through Scott’s conditioning drills. After completing sprints, Randle often hunched over onto the ground with beads of sweat dripping down his face. This time, Randle has completed all of those drills without looking fatigued or experiencing any setbacks with his surgically repaired right leg and right foot.

Lakers coach Byron Scott notices something else, too.

“Confidence,” Scott said. “Now he feels he can definitely play at this level. Last year, he was guessing and wondering if he could.”

The Lakers selected Randle seventh overall after becoming intrigued with his versatility as a bruising power forward and playmaker. But Scott often mentioned during training camp how Randle looked lost on the court. Randle also admittedly struggled with adapting to the game’s pace.

The Lakers never could learn how Randle would handle those hiccups throughout the 2014-15 season, the campaign ending with a 21-61 record partly because of Randle’s absence. But he compensated elsewhere.

Randle lost about 20 pounds of fat and gained 10 pounds of muscle by cutting out sugary sweets, fried foods and anything else heavy on carbohydrates. He watched countless games on film and in person. Randle listened to Kobe Bryant’s advice on staying patient with step he took with rehab. He eagerly took notes during his summer workouts with Metta World Peace about body positioning, moving off-the-ball and defending. Add all that up, and Randle said he “felt the game slowing down for me.”

“He’s playing great right now. I’m really excited,” World Peace said. “He’s playing really, really well right now. I’m looking forward to seeing him make progress.”

But some of that progress has limitations.

Scott may have encouraged Randle to bring the ball up the court anytime he gets a rebound. Scott has said the same thing to Kobe Bryant, D’Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson. But portions of Wednesday’s scrimmage featured veteran power forward Brandon Bass playing in that group. Scott insisted he will try other lineups throughout training camp, but that combination could serve eventually represent the Lakers’ starting unit. Scott also admitted he’s “still not sure” on Randle’s potential.

“That’s kind of not really our decision, but coach’s decision,” Randle said. “It’s out there playing basketball. I’m going to compete regardless. I love the game. So I’m going to compete regardless.”

Randle did that on Wednesday, ending with a painful feeling he once forget and has since relished.

“Pretty much the soreness, I forgot about that,” Randle said. “It’s cool, I guess. I’d rather be sore than on the sideline.”

RELATED:
Julius Randle: from rehab to research to rejuvenated
Julius Randle faces no restrictions entering training camp
Lakers’ Kobe Bryant: ‘We’re being smart’ on maximizing health, practice

Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter and on Facebook. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com

“I think most Trojans (fans) are just trying to figure out what happens toward the end of the season.”

— Former USC tailback Anthony Davis on 1090-AM

The outfielder has made minimal progress in his recovery from a hamstring strain this month and isn’t expected to be ready for the National League Division Series. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said that there is no plan for Puig to rejoin the Dodgers when they return home Friday for the final series of the regular season.

Otherwise, the lineup has a fairly normal look. That should be the case for the final five games of the season, manager Don Mattingly said:

The Dodgers’ full lineup against Giants right-hander Mike Leake:

Carl Crawford LF
Jimmy Rollins SS
Corey Seager 3B
Andre Ethier RF
Chase Utley 2B
Yasmani Grandal 1B
Austin Barnes C
Joc Pederson CF
Mike Bolsinger P

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant wears an ice pack on his shoulder during team practice at the Stan Sheriff Center, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015, in Honolulu. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

HONOLULU — Just as nearly everyone here slept comfortably in their beds, Kobe Bryant woke up to prepare for something that has consumed him nearly his entire life.

The Lakers star trained.

He woke up at an ungodly hour for an individual workout to strengthen his body, most notably the surgically repaired right shoulder he has rehabbed in the past eight months. Bryant then arrived to practice early for an individual shooting workout to accelerate his rhythm. The Lakers’ star then participated in most of the Lakers’ 2 1/2 hour practice that started at 11 a.m, which consisted of full-court 5-on-0 and 5-on-5 drills.

“I felt pretty good,” Bryant said on Wednesday after the Lakers practiced here at Stan Sheriff Center. “I was moving well and could get the spots I wanted to and do what I wanted to on the floor.”

It may seem like a heavy workload for the Lakers’ 37-year-old guard considering his season has ended abruptly for three consecutive years because of ailments to his left Achilles tendon, left knee and right shoulder. But that explains why Bryant skipped portions of the Lakers’ conditioning drills and layup lines. Bryant also will rest during the Lakers’ evening portion of practice, a two-hour session Lakers coach Byron Scott plans to devote toward technical drills.

In between his first and second days of practices, Bryant has undergone repeated treatment that includes modalities, massages and ice bags.

“It was good,” Bryant said. “But honestly my summer regimen was much worse.”

It appears Bryant wants to push the envelope in strengthening his body and shedding off rust, while trimming his workload. But during portions of the Lakers’ scrimmage that were open to reporters, Bryant adopted a less-is-more approach.

The Lakers’ star dismissed playing at small forward instead of shooting guard, noting he has played that position before “in the last 10 years.” But as he played with D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, Brandon Bass and Roy Hibbert, Bryant did not shoot at all, let alone touch the ball.

“I don’t think it matters, man. You play the flow of the game and see what comes,” Bryant said. “I don’t have to handle the ball at all. That leaves more time to catch and shoot.”

Bryant still provided a presence where he frequently shouted out defensive coverages. Of course, teammates have noticed his intensive practice itinerary. Randle came with Bryant to practice early, while Metta World Peace was already working out in the weight room.

“It was fun,” Bryant said. “At the end, we got a chance to go up and down a bit. That was good.”

RELATED:

Lakers’ D’Angelo Russell starstruck practicing with Kobe Bryant

Lakers’ Kobe Bryant: ‘We’re being smart’ on maximizing health, practice

Lakers’ D’Angelo Russell to have locker next to Kobe Bryant

Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter and on Facebook. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com

Our sports section in tomorrow’s newspapers will feature this story on UCLA running back Paul Perkins, examining his skill set as well as why he seems to stay under the radar.

Here’s a photo gallery with shot from each of Perkins’ games since the start of the 2014 season.

The award, voted on by Dodger uniformed personnel, will be presented to Greinke by Campanella’s daughter, Joni Campanella Roan, during pregame ceremonies Sunday.

Former Dodgers to win the award include Rafael Furcal (2006), Russell Martin (2007), James Loney (2008), Juan Pierre (2009), Jamey Carroll (2010), Matt Kemp (2011), A.J. Ellis (2012) and Clayton Kershaw (2013-14), who became the award’s first two-time recipient.

Doc Rivers/Photo by Associated Press

Doc Rivers is on the NBA’s competition committee. One new rule it established over the summer was playoff seedings. Previously, any team winning its division was guaranteed a top 4 seed, even if it had an inferior record to a team that did not win its division.

That has now been changed so seedings will be based solely on record.

One rule change that would have been welcomed by fans didn’t get done. That’s the Hack-a-Shaq that affected the Clippers and post DeAndre Jordan, one of the worst free-throw shooters in the league.

When an opponent would make it a point to continually foul Jordan on purpose, it slowed the game down and made it downright difficult to watch.

But Rivers said the possibility of change there got little play.

“There really wasn’t a lot of talk (about that),” he said. “That rule is a tough one. I get it, again, for the fans; it’s ugly. It looks bad. But it’s tough to change a rule for five or six guys (in the league).”

Los Angeles Lakers Media Day in El Segundo Monday September 28, 2015. Nick Young smiles during interview.
Photo By Robert Casillas / Daily Breeze

So many things happened that made Nick Young’s normally infectious smile turn into a frown.

The Lakers finished 21-61 last season in what marked their worst record in franchise history. Young shot only 36.6 percent from the field, his worst mark in his eight-year NBA career. He missed the last two months of the season because of fractured left knee. Through it all, Young clashed with Lakers coach Byron Scott amid his role, his inconsistency, his tardiness to games and for an infamous post-game celebration. Once it all ended, the Lakers tried trading Young this summer only to find uninterested suitors.

But Young reported to the Lakers’ training camp still bearing the same smile, vowing that he will write a script that entails a happier ending.

“We all got something to prove,” Young said. “I went in my Batcave and got my mind right. I feel good. I got away from everything and got back to playing and enjoying it.”

Young has said he focused this summer both on weight training and on following Scott’s advice to diversify his game as a passer, off-the-ball shooter and defender. After the two strongly became at odds last season, the tension has simmered down. Two weeks after publicly expressing his frustration about Scott’s criticism, Young changed his sentiment following his exit meeting. Young said the dialogue continued this summer.

“It’s been great. We sat down and talked and went to his camp and talked to his kids,” Young said of Scott. “We needed to go through that and needed to talk. I’m just going to do whatever it takes to get out there.”

If not, the Lakers could lean more on Lou Williams. Though Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak have maintained the two could co-exist, Williams is the reigning NBA’s sixth man of the year because of his high-volume scoring. The sentiment around the NBA suggests Williams has a positive locker room presence, something that lacked in Young’s second-year with the Lakers amid his aforementioned struggles.

How will this dynamic work if the Lakers encounter early-season struggles or Young falls out of the rotation?

“I’m not trying to be the center of the soap opera or the drama. I’m going to end up doing Marshawn Lynch interviews,” Young joked, referring to the Seattle Seahawks’ running back for declining media requests. “I’m going to take the Marshawn Lynch approach. I’ll put Swaggy in a cage.”

Young stayed in true form, however, during the Lakers’ Media Day on a number of topics.

He offered an optimistic prediction on Kobe Bryant’s 20th and perhaps final NBA season after nursing season-ending injuries in the last three seasons to his left Achilles tendon, left knee and right shoulder.

“He’s going to play a full season. I know it’s been tough on him,” Young said of Bryant. “He’s not used to being in situations like this. It was a blessing in disguise. I think he learned from it. I see he’s been going to each booth today. He normally skips out after a few minutes. He’s ready.”

Young laughed about the potential comedy as he readies sharing a locker room with Metta World Peace. Will Young legally change his name to “Swaggy P” the same way the former Ron Artest did?

“Nah, that’s too much work,” Young said. “It’s already pretty much my name. Nobody calls me Nick out there in the streets. I’ll change my name back to Nicholas. Call me Nicholas for now on.”

Then Young retold an old joke on how he blamed last shooting woes on the rim, saying he would take it on the date even if it made his fiance, hip-hop artist Iggy Azalea, jealous.

“We got back on the same page,” Young said of the rim. “I took her to Morton’s Steakhouse, got her a steak or two. Now I’m good. It’s going to go in this year.”

The Lakers anxiously await.

RELATED:

Lakers’ D’Angelo Russell starstruck practicing with Kobe Bryant

Lakers’ Kobe Bryant: ‘We’re being smart’ on maximizing health, practice

Lakers’ D’Angelo Russell to have locker next to Kobe Bryant
Lakers’ Mitch Kupchak defends Nick Young’s personality

Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter and on Facebook. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com

“It’s a very talented team that’s not going to reach expectations. They aren’t going to win the South Division, they aren’t going to win the Pac-12, and that was the expectation. They’re just not tough enough.”

I was on Pac-12 Networks yesterday evening to talk a bit about UCLA football with Mike Yam.

Cami Barril had 13 kills to lead the charge. Kaitlin Morley had nine kills.

Landry Bearden had seven kills and five blocks. Katelyn David had seven kills and eight digs. Chelsea Chadwick had four digs and three aces, and Natalie Aston had 37 assists.

Ally Wilder had nine kills and three aces. Katie Romanovich added 19 digs for Calabasas, which plays Thousand Oaks on Thursday.

Read the writeup here.

And here is the highlight video.

HONOULU — The exercised involved a simple three-man drill, but Lakers rookie guard D’Angelo Russell struggled to process it all.

The drill itself is simple and elementary for any basketball team, let alone the Lakers. But what left Russell pinching himself on his first day of Lakers’ training camp here at Stan Sheriff Center entailed who also completed the drill. His name is Kobe Bryant. He is entering his 20th and perhaps final NBA season. And when Bryant made his preseason debut here on Oct. 10, 1996, Russell had only turned 221 days old.

“It was great. You try to keep it off your mind like this guys is not right besides you,” Russell said Tuesday after the Lakers’ practiced. “That’s something you have to get past. If you want to be the best, we have to look at him as a mentor and not look at him as a fan.”

That explains why Russell took notes on how Bryant looked in his first practice since tearing the rotator cuff in his right shoulder eight months ago, an injury that required season-ending surgery. Toward the tail end of practice, Bryant skipped portions of the Lakers’ sprinting and shooting drills while receiving treatment on his shoulder.

“He looked good. You could tell he was trying to pace himself a little bit,” Russell said of Bryant. “I didn’t really know what to expect. Coming in, I didn’t think he’d be go through the whole practice knowing it’s his first one back. He looked good.”

That explains why Russell arose early Monday morning in hopes to squeeze an early workout in, though a certain Lakers’ teammate already beat him to the punch.

“I couldn’t sleep last night, so I woke up really early just ready to get here. But I know Kobe got here early,” Russell said. “I know I plan on getting here early also. It was like the first day of school honestly.”

And on that first day of school, Russell’s teacher already handed out a generous evaluation.

“He knows the little details about the game here and there,” Bryant said of Russell. “He loves the game. When you have player that loves the game, it’s my responsibility to make sure he never loses sight of that through difficult moments and even the great moments and focus on the love of the game. Once you have that, you’ll probably solve everything. So stay focused on that. I have to keep him locked in there.”

Bryant did not stop there.

“He has a lot of poise out there,” Bryant said of Russell. “He’s very calm under duress. He doesn’t seem fazed by much.”

Well, with perhaps one exception.

Russell admitted feeling overwhelmed with Bryant’s presence. Russell’s eyes also lit up when informed about Bryant’s glowing assessment.

“Those are high words,” Russell said. “I feel like a lot of guys have that one inspiration off the court that keeps them going. Mine is being on the court. I have the opportunity to be blessed and play every day. I really take those strong words into consideration. I keep working. You’re getting paid to do something you love. Not a lot of guys get to dream of something when you’re young and make it a reality.”

Yet, Bryant still shed down layers of his steely persona. Moments before talking to reporters, Bryant stopped to chat with Russell and Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson. Then, Bryant laughed with them and embraced them.

“He’s going to get some wisdom from one of the greatest players that ever played the game,” Lakers coach Byron Scott said of Russell. “Kobe, obviously during the drills, is taking him to the side and talking to him and I saw that this morning. D’Angelo is one of those guys that’s a sponge. He wants to learn. That’s a great relationship to have and to be able to talk to somebody that’s been there so many times and been so successful.”

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Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitterfa and on Facebook. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com

UCLA defensive coordinator Tom Bradley talked about what he saw the Bruins do wrong against Arizona last Saturday, from his own playcalling to what opponents may do now that the team’s struggles against the zone read have been revealed.

UCLA fullback Nate Iese (32) celebrates a touchdown with defensive tackle Eli Ankou during the Bruins’ 62-27 win at Arizona State on Sept. 25, 2014. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

No. 7 UCLA Bruins (4-0, 1-0) vs. Arizona State Sun Devils (2-2, 0-1)
Kickoff: Saturday, Oct. 3, 4:30 p.m., Rose Bowl
TV: FOX (Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt, Molly McGrath)
Radio: AM 570 (Bill Roth, Matt Stevens, Wayne Cook)

Scouting report: Has there been a more disappointing team in the Pac-12 than Arizona State? Oregon has an argument after falling on its face against Utah, but the Ducks at least had some good stretches prior to Saturday. A Sun Devils team that Todd Graham billed as his best yet fell from No. 15 to unranked after one game and hasn’t recovered. … Against UCLA, Stanford and USC last year, quarterback Mike Bercovici completed 63 percent of his passes for 1,243 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions. That set up big expectations for his ascension to full-time starter, but against Texas A&M and the Trojans this year, he’s fallen to 55.3 percent for 471 yards, one touchdown and one interception. … ASU ranked top-10 nationally in turnover margin in both 2013 and 2014. So far in 2015, it is stuck down at No. 98, averaging -0.75 per game. The team has already lost seven fumbles after totaling just 10 over the last two seasons.

Series history: UCLA leads the all-time series, 19-11-1, but neither team has held an extended win streak over the other. The Bruins’ longest capped out at four wins (1976, 1979-81), although that did begin a stretch of nine wins in 11 meetings. The most consecutive games ASU has won is three (’95, ’96, ’99).

Key players:

QB Mike Bercovici, RSr., 6-2, 210 — 93/157, 1,071 yards, 7 TD, 2 INT
— His yards per attempt are down a full yard from his junior season to 6.8. That puts him second-to-last among Pac-12 starters, ahead of only Oregon State true freshman Seth Collins (6.1).

RB Demario Richard, So., 5-10, 220 — 70 carries, 429 yards, 4 TD
– The most consistent part of the ASU offense this season, Richard has run for three straight 100-yard games and leads the conference with 614 yards from scrimmage — one ahead of UCLA’s Paul Perkins.

WR D.J. Foster, Sr., 6-4, 213 — 22 catches, 189 yards, 1 TD, 21 carries, 111 yards
– He is only the fourth player in NCAA history to hit 2,000 rushing yards and 2,000 receiving yards in his career. For some reason, he’s gone from 19.7 touches per game to 10.8.

S Jordan Simone, RSr., 6-0, 190 — 37 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 1 sack, 2 INT
— The former walk-on turned himself into an all-conference honorable mention as a junior, and has assumed the role as the team’s leading tackler following Damarious Randall becoming a first-round draft pick.

LB Salamo Fiso, RJr., 6-0, 230 — 36 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 1 sack
– In his third season as a starter, he leads the Pac-12 in tackles for loss and ranks top 10 nationally

Line: UCLA opened as a 13.5-point favorite.

Opponent in GIF form:

via GIPHY

Fun fact:

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant wears an ice pack on his shoulder during team practice at the Stan Sheriff Center, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015, in Honolulu. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

HONOLULU — The nostalgia struck Kobe Bryant and Byron Scott, their return trip here to Stan Sheriff Center sparking memories that seem so long ago.

Scott began his last NBA season 19 years ago at training camp here at the same time Bryant entered the league, the player-mentor relationship eventually morphing to a coach-player partnership.

“It feels beautiful,” Bryant said. “It’s the cycle nature of sports. It feels good to be in this moment.”

Scott and Bryant experienced this moment many times.

The late Lakers owner Jerry Buss began this tradition in 1988, which morphed into the Lakers going here for eight of the nine next NBA exhibition seasons. Scott appeared in five of those training camps from 1988-1990, 1992 and 1996, viewing them as a refuge from the ordinary.

“It was always great to come here to get away from Los Angeles for a little while so you concentrate and focus on the things you had to do in training camp,” Scott said. “Now you can’t go home to your wife, girlfriends and kids. You have to stay around with your teammate and get that camaraderie and togetherness that you want.”

Bryant sounded just as sentimental, saying he has “a lot of great memories here” and that he “felt like a local from day one.” But Bryant did not always experience the camaraderie that Scott enjoyed at training camp here.

The Lakers came here in the middle of their three-peat in 2001. But the Lakers’ training camp in Hawaii also coincided with less positive incidents. Bryant missing training camp here after being accused of sexual assault, though charges were later dropped (2003). The Lakers returned in 2005 a season after the Lakers missed the playoffs for the first time in 11 years. The Lakers came back in 2007 a few months after Bryant had publicly demanded a trade amid frustration with the franchise’s rebuilding efforts.

Still, Bryant marveled that he played along enough to return again after Lakers president Jeanie Buss spearheaded the trip as a way to continue tradition and attract potential free agents.

“All my teammates that were here before,” Bryant said, “they’re all now either retired or coaching. Or on TV.”

The Lakers will hold practices here this week, including two-a-day sessions on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. They will play two exhibition games against the Utah Jazz on Sunday and Tuesday and hold practices on Monday and Wednesday before returning to Los Angeles.

“It’s great to be back in Hawaii,” Scott said. “I don’t know if it’s [Kobe’s] last training camp or not, but to be back at the place he started is very special.”

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Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter and on Facebook. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com

Clayton Kershaw (22) gets a hug from Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis (17) after the final out of the Dodgers’ 8-0 win over the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

Chandon Brut Classic is $264 a case. Kershaw’s pitching in the Dodgers’ 8-0, NL West-clinching win over the Giants was priceless. The box score is here.

Corey Seager has relegated Jimmy Rollins to the Dodgers’ bench.

HONOLULU — The players lined up on one side of the court, waiting for Lakers coach Byron Scott to blow his whistle to signal the beginning of yet another arduous exercise. Then it happened, the shriek of Scott’s whistle prompting all of his players to run up and down the court.

Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson finished the drills first, prompting Scott to say “the kid seems like he can run all day.” Lakers guard Kobe Bryant sat on a trainer’s table, but Scott reported Bryant “remained ahead of the pack” in conditioning drills he participated before the Lakers permitted reporters to view practice. And then there was Lakers rookie guard D’Angelo Russell, who completed the drills adequately before admitting afterwards he hardly enjoyed them.

“Running is punishment to me,” Russell said after the Lakers’ first day of training camp on Tuesday at Stan Sheriff Center. “I don’t think anyone wants to run for fun unless you’re a track star. I don’t think they enjoy it either.”

But Russell knew well ahead of time what would greet him in his first NBA practice. Scott has developed a league-wide reputation for holding training camps that place a heavy emphasis on running. Russell spent part of his offseason completing conditioning drills to prepare. Yet, Russell still described the process as “tough.”

“It’s all mental,” Russell said. “It’s something you have to do and prepare your body for.”

Yet, Scott sounded far more forgiving on Russell’s first practice than the intensity of his running drills.

“His conditioning was really good and he shot the ball extremely well,” Scott said of Russell. “On the defensive end, he’s working on some of those things we want him to work on that end of the floor with communication and understanding where he needs to be.”

Even if he felt tired, the 19-year-old Russell showed enough stamina and quickness to make most of his attempts in shooting drills open to the media. But tougher tests await.

The Lakers will hold two-a-day sessions on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. Of course, the grind of an 82-game NBA season exposes every player’s durability and conditioning with each passing moment.

“I want to see which guys are willing to bust their butts. I’m going to find out,” Scott said. “One of my pet peeves, if we’re going to lose some games this year, it’s not going to be because we’re not in shape. If we’re going to lose games, it’s because some teams are better than we are that night. The one thing I want our team in that fourth quarter is be strong mentally as well as physically.”

Scott said the Lakers passed the first test, singling out Russell, Bryant, Clarkson, Roy Hibbert, Brandon Bass, Tarik Black and Ryan Kelly as players that impressed him with their conditioning level.

“Half the guys were in great shape and terrific shape. The other half were in good shape,” Scott said. “There was not one person that wasn’t ready for camp. Usually I have a couple guys throwing up.”

But it appears the experience left a sour taste in Russell’s mouth, the Lakers’ rookie admitting a return trip to Hawaii on vacation may spark unpleasant memories about his first day in training camp.

“I probably wouldn’t want to come back knowing there’s a lot of running,” Russell said. “I’ll have to be with my family with no basketball shoes.”

Moments later, Russell expressed something that enabled him to push through amid the endless whistles.

“It comes with the success you have,” Russell said. “You have to run and put yourself in tip top shape.”

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Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter and on Facebook. E-mail him at mark.medina@langews.com

Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig has been sidelined all of September with a hamstring strain. (Sarah Reingewirtz/Staff photographer)

SAN FRANCISCO — Dodgers manager Don Mattingly offered an encouraging piece of news on outfielder Yasiel Puig.

“He actually played in some kind of game,” yesterday and today, Mattingly said. “He was able to get some ABs and stuff, just continuing to be able to some things.”

Sidelined since Aug. 27 with hamstring problems, Puig has made minimal progress out of the Dodgers’ Camelback Ranch facility in Glendale, Arizona.

It’s still far too soon to judge Puig’s availability for a potential first-round playoff series. Mattingly said that Puig didn’t play the outfield and offered no news about how well Puig is running. The manager recently said that Puig is running at 80 percent.

“I’m not quite sure how they do that — let him have at bats and not run easy,” Mattingly said.

Update (6:37 p.m.): Thanks to Chris Kusiolek for uploading this video of Puig at the plate today:

Cody Ponce vs. Yaisel Puig. 98 with slight cut action https://t.co/V7FHKNCIIe

— Chris Kusiolek (@CaliKusiolek) September 30, 2015

Even 90 years later, replacing an established veteran with a young up-and-comer is still hard, whether the manager is Miller Huggins or Don Mattingly, whether the veteran is Wally Pipp or Jimmy Rollins.

“Nothing like this is ever easy,” said Mattingly, who effectively chose 21-year-old Corey Seager over the 36-year-old Rollins as his everyday shortstop Tuesday.

Seager is batting fifth and playing shortstop against one of the best left-handed pitchers in baseball, Madison Bumgarner. He also started Monday against Giants right-hander Jake Peavy.

Tuesday’s decision was a somewhat unusual one for Mattingly, who often makes out his lineup card based on handedness. Tuesday, he stacked his lineup with six right-handers, as well as Seager, left-handed first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and left-handed pitcher Clayton Kershaw against the left-handed Bumgarner.

It appears Seager is in the Dodgers’ lineup to stay, relegating Rollins to a bench role. Mattingly wouldn’t offer an overview of the shortstop position Tuesday — “I’m not trying to view it,” he said, “other than to put out the lineup that gives us the best chance to win tonight” — though the change is significant enough that he recently met with Rollins to discuss it.

“It’s definitely a conversation, that’s for sure, out of respect to him, his career, what he’s done in his career,” Mattingly said. “But also I feel like he’s been a huge part of our club this year, getting it where we are right now — his leadership in the middle of the diamond, in the clubhouse. I feel he’s been a rock in that circumstance.”

Seager is batting .342 with three home runs and 14 RBIs in 22 games. He’s reached base in each of his 20 starts to begin his career, something no Dodger has done since 1953.

Rollins has played 142 games in his first season as a Dodger, batting a career-low .225 with 13 home runs and 41 RBIs. His 12 stolen bases (in 20 attempts) are also a career low. During his 15 seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, Rollins won a World Series, a National League MVP award, four Gold Glove Awards and was named to three All-Star games.

“Again, I have a ton of respect for who Jimmy is, number one,” Mattingly said. “You don’t just do this and not get attached to guys, love who they are, what they bring, have respect for how hard it is to do. Nothing about having that conversation with Jimmy is easy.”

Rollins was held out of the Dodgers’ starting lineup in 14 games earlier this month because of an injury to his right index finger. It was during this time, Mattingly said, that Seager seized the job.

“Opportunity knocks and he seemed to do well right away,” Mattingly said. “If Jimmy doesn’t hurt his index finger, we may not be having this conversation right now.”

The Dodgers get their second crack at eliminating the Giants from the National League West race at AT&T Park tonight.

Pablo Prigioni/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Clippers

Pablo Prigioni is 38, but he’s only going to be in his fourth NBA season because the native of Argentina previously played professionally in Argentina and Spain.

Coach Doc Rivers likes what he’s seen so far from Prigioni, who this past season toiled for the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets.

“He is just a wonderful guy to have on your basketball team,” Rivers said. “Plays his role, he’s been a coach out there on the floor at times.”

Austin Rivers, son of Doc, has been working hard at becoming an even better defensive player than he already was. He said he plans on picking Prigioni’s brain for help.

“I’m still going to learn, get tips from Pablo Prigioni, who has been around,” Austin Rivers said. “Pablo has a lot of techniques to get his hands on balls, so does Chris (Paul).”

Wesley Johnson/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers

Wesley Johnson this week was asked about being an inconsistent player, and he said that figures to change this season now that he’s on a deep team with the likes of Blake Griffin and Chris Paul anchoring it. Keep in mind the previous two seasons Johnson was with the Lakers, one of the league’s worst teams of late.

Speaking Tuesday in general terms and not specifically about Johnson, coach Doc Rivers believes playing on a good team can make the difference for a role player.

“When you’re on a good team and a role player, you’re a better player,” he said from training camp at UC Irvine. “You play better, kind of get your role better. When you’re on a bad team, usually no one actually knows their role and everyone is fighting each other to be the man because the team’s bad, you don’t believe the guy that’s good is that good.

“So I think it’s a lot easier when you come to a team and it’s clear who the guys are.”

Paul Pierce/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Clippers, Washington Wizards

Coach Doc Rivers was asked again Tuesday if he has made a decision as to who is going to start at small forward this season. As of right now, it’s either going to be Paul Pierce or Wesley Johnson. Lance Stephenson would also be a possibility, but Rivers said this week he would prefer to keep him on what figures to be a dynamite second unit.

Rivers still isn’t sure which way he’s going to go, but it could be they’ll both start at times.

“I think it’s going to be one of those things where it changes from night to night,” Rivers said. “There will be nights when Wes starts, nights when Paul starts. I  think we’re versatile enough to be able to do that.”

Rivers then made reporters laugh when one asked if matchups and such will determine who starts on a given night.

“Yeah, matchups, Paul’s age, a lot of things,” he said.

Pierce will be 38 on Oct. 13. Johnson is 28.

Doc Rivers/Photo by Associated Press

The Clippers will open their six-game exhibition season Friday when they play host to the Denver Nuggets at 7:30 p.m. at Staples Center. Then they travel for a Sunday game against Toronto in Canada before embarking on a trip to China, where they will play the Charlotte Hornets on Oct. 10 and Oct. 14.

It’s good for bonding, Doc Rivers said, especially for a team with so many new faces.

“The China travel is a little much, but if we’re going to go, I guess this year would probably be the right year to go because we have so many guys,” he said.  “It will give us a chance to get to know each other a little bit better.”

The Clippers’ final two exhibition games will be Oct. 20 against Golden State and Oct. 22 against Portland – both games will be at Staples Center.

Los Angeles Lakers Media Day in El Segundo Monday September 28, 2015. Roy Hibbert interview.
Photo By Robert Casillas / Daily Breeze

All the numbers suggest the NBA teams should go small, the influx of speedy point guards and outside shooters forcing the game to put less of an emphasis on size and power.

But to break that trend, Lakers center Roy Hibbert wants to take advantage of another number. His weight. Hibbert spent a significant chunk of his offseason losing 15 pounds in fat, so he would no longer become seen as a plodding big man.

“With how the NBA is going, you have a lot of quick centers,” Hibbert said on Monday at the Lakers’ Media Day at their practice facility in El Segundo. “It’s changed some things up. But I feel I’m in a place where I can hold my own in the post and get up and down the court.”

One of those centers includes Golden State’s Andrew Bogut, whose contributions Hibbert believes quickly became overshadowed with the outside shooting from Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson’s emergence as well as the defense from Andre Iguodala and Draymond Green. Yet, the 7-foot Bogut still landed on the NBA’s All-Defensive Second Team and finished sixth in Defensive Player of the Year votes despite averaging a career-low 23.6 minutes per game.

“He didn’t score a lot, and he’s not the fastest guy out there. No disrespect to him,” Hibbert said of Bogut. “He was a friend of mien and I’ve known him for a while. I admire his game and how he sacrifices what he does to help his team win a championship. I don’t mind being the older guy that has to sacrifice and be the defensive anchor.”

Hibbert sure had to sacrifice in his last season with the Indiana Pacers. He averaged only 10.6 points and 7.1 rebounds in 25.3 minutes amid the Pacers’ quest to player smaller and faster. The Pacers then traded Hibbert to the Lakers for only a second round pick just to expend his $15.51 million salary. But the Lakers are leaning on Hibbert’s credentials as a former two-time All-Star and an All-NBA second defensive team member to revamp the Lakers after finishing 29th out of 30 NBA teams in defensive efficiency.

Hibbert embraced that concept, mindful that his role could ease Kobe Bryant’s burden and enable him to have a successful comeback after nursing three season-ending injuries in consecutive years.

“He’s one of the greatest players to play the game,” Hibbert said of Bryant. “I’m expecting him to do what he does. Im going to be sure im ready to go to help him ut and fall in line. I expected him to be what he’s always been, and I’ll be here to help.”

Part of that hinges on Hibbert’s dieting. He listened to the Lakers’ feedback in varying his eating times and nourishing his body with more protein. He did not listen to the voice inside his head.

“Would I like to have a red velvet cupcake with cream cheese frosting? Yeah, I would,” Hibbert said, laughing. “But this is part of my game.”

Hibbert will find out on Tuesday how much of a difference that made, his first step in countering the analytics suggest his decreased value in a league lacking traditional big men.

“I’ll see how it goes after training camp,” Hibbert said. “So if any of you guys make the trip to Hawaii, Ill have an answer for you.”

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Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter and on Facebook. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com

Lakers forward Julius Randle holds court. Photo By Robert Casillas / Daily Breeze

After only completing a string of exhibition games, Julius Randle heard some life-altering feedback that Kobe Bryant delivered with brutal honesty.

“If you [bleep] this up, you’re a really big idiot,” Bryant told Randle.

Mere moments after stepping on the practice court, Jordan Clarkson wound up defending Bryant and soon experienced the scorn most defenders experience after the Lakers’ star scores on them.

“Don’t hurt yourself young fella,” Bryant said to Clarkson after sinking a mid-range jumper over him.

Both Randle and Clarkson still have limited perspective playing with Bryant.

Randle played only 14 minutes in the NBA season opener last year before fracturing his right tibia and missing the rest of his rookie season.Clarkson did not become the Lakers’ starting point guard until Bryant needed season-ending surgery on his right shoulder after playing 35 games. But both players offered perspective on what the Lakers’ other crop of young players will need to do to absorb Bryant’s stern leadership style.

“Leaving it all out there on the line and just play hard,” said Clarkson, who made the NBA’s All-Rookie First team after averaging 15.8 points on 45.8 percent shooting, five assists and 4.2 rebounds in 32.1 minutes through 38 games as a starter. “That’s all Coach ever asks for, to give your best effort. If you’re trying to make efforts for the team to win, and putting it all on the line, that’s where you gain your respect at all times.”

Bryant granted Clarkson that respect as he quickly grew into a combo guard capable of creating his own shot. Bryant often drew up X’s and O’s diagrams whenever he attended some of the Lakers’ home games to point out pick-and-roll coverages and spacing. Clarkson also noted in an article for The Players’ Tribune not to sweat the fact that he had missed a wide-open layup in a nationally televised game against Chicago on Christmas Day.

Meanwhile, Bryant represented one of the first to call Randle hours after his season-ending injury. Randle has often credited Bryant for his persistent feedback on dieting and staying patient with rehabbing.

“I think we’ll be fine. Kobe is an all time great. More than anything, this young corps should want to learn from him,” Randle said. “It’ll elevate our game by learning from him.”

The candidates seem plenty.

No. 2 draft pick D’Angelo Russell will likely share ball handling duties with Bryant. Rookie forward Anthony Brown will likely have the unenviable task of guarding Bryant in practice. Reserve scorer Lou Williams could pick up tips on both enhancing his scoring and adjusting with Bryant on the floor. Roy Hibbert could receive feedback from Bryant on the various nuances other former frontcourt teammates, including Shaquille O’Neal and Pau Gasol.

Plenty of whom reported to the Lakers’ informal workouts at their practice facility leading into training camp, eager to provide a more compelling narrative to last year’s 21-61 finish that represented the Lakers’ worst record in franchise history.

“We’ve got a lot of guys that, they want to learn and have a good season,” Clarkson said. “Last year wasn’t fun losing all those games, but at the same time we did learn a lot and we worked and we kept improving. That’s all we can ask for and now we’ve got to put it all together during training camp and hopefully get some wins.”

And it appears Bryant has already noticed.

“Players that love the game, you never have to convince them to get into the gym,” Bryant said. “They do it naturally because they love doing it.”

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Lakers’ Jordan Clarkson not satisfied with promising rookie season

Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter and on Facebook. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com

Former Laker James Worthy will work with the team’s frontcourt players this upcoming season. Photo credit: John McCoy / Staff Photographer

The man provided a commanding presence, James Worthy’s dapper suit, friendly personality and Hall of Fame resume attracting plenty of reporters, Lakers officials and players alike to chat with the former Showtime Laker.

Worthy appeared at the Lakers’ practice facility for the team’s media day on Monday as an analyst for Time Warner Cable SportsNet, but it turns out his role will become more involved for the 2015-16 season. The Lakers hired Worthy to work with Byron Scott’s coaching staff, mainly to develop the team’s core of frontcourt players in Julius Randle, Roy Hibbert, Brandon Bass, Larry Nance Jr. and Tarik Black.

The reasons appear pretty self-explanatory after Worthy won three NBA championships with the Showtime Lakers during his 12-year NBA career and being named as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA history.

“You got one of the best post players that ever played the game,” said Lakers coach Byron Scott, one of Worthy’s former teammates. “We’ll let James come in and kind of teach those guys some of the things he was able to accomplish in this league. We’re trying to take advantage of every situation that we can to make sure we give our players a chance to get even better a lot sooner.”

Worthy traveled to Honolulu for the Lakers’ training camp beginning on Tuesday where he will both retain his role as a TWC SportsNet analyst and begin working with the Lakers’ frontcourt players. He attended training camp sessions last year, narrowing his focus with Lakers forward Julius Randle. Though he played only 14 minutes in the Lakers’ season opener before fracturing his right tibia, Randle has largely credited Worthy’s support. Worthy called Randle shortly after his injury, and frequently implored the Lakers’ rookie to study game film. Worthy also provided perspective after fracturing his left tibia his rookie year with the Lakers late in the 1982-83 season and missed the playoffs.

“I learned a lot from him last year,” Randle said. “It was huge for me. It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be great to pick his brain again. He saw me the other day and I was very excited to get that opportunity.”

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant also shared that Worthy taught him various post moves, instruction the Lakers’ star relished amid his quest to fight old age by resorting to his fundamentals.

“It’s amazing,” Bryant said of the hire. “It’s an extremely smart move. We’re one of these organizations that is very fortunate to have some of the all-time greats have played here. You’ve got to use that.”

Worthy, whom the Lakers selected first overall in 1982, earned the nickname “Big Game” amid a his 12-year career here (1982-1994). He finished sixth all-time in scoring (16,320), seventh in field-goal percentage (52.1%) and third in steals (1,041). Worth also made seven NBA All-Star teams (1986-92), won the Finals MVP (1988) and posted a triple double in Game 7 of the 1988 NBA Finals against the Detroit Pistons.

“James was one of the best forwards to ever play the game,” Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said in a statement. “We feel he will be a valuable addition to the coaching staff and will do an excellent job teaching our group of big men. We are pleased and fortunate to welcome him back to the organization.”

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UCLA coach Jim Mora talked about the Bruins’ upcoming matchup with Arizona State this Saturday, touching on quarterback Mike Bercovici’s development since last season and Todd Graham’s defensive style.

No. 7 UCLA is currently ranked three spots above Utah in the Associated Press poll, but one Pac-12 Networks analyst thinks the Utes may still currently have the better resume.

Glenn Parker, a former Arizona offensive lineman who went on to start 141 games in the NFL, said that Utah’s 62-20 win at Oregon will stick out when it comes time for the playoff selection committee to start making decisions. That blowout knocked the Ducks out of the top 25 for the first time after 98 straight weeks.

“Utah, they won a big game in Autzen, a place where no one goes and has a big game,” Parker said. “They did it, and they dismantled a good program. The folks that are watching for the playoffs, a lot of those people are back east. They’re Big Ten people. They watched Oregon go into Michigan State and play a very, very good team within one play of winning that game.

“I think it has more cachet nationally right now. Utah just, I think, appears better to the average person out there than UCLA does at this moment.”

Kobe Bryant is swarmed Monday as he talks about the upcoming season, which is expected to be his last in a Lakers uniform. ROBERT CASILLAS — STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Everyone watched Kobe Bryant’s every movement. The Lakers’ star attracted mob-like attention as he walked around the Lakers’ practice facility to film endless promotional spots and conduct endless interviews on Monday at the team’s annual Media Day.

Each step Bryant takes on the court in the 2015-16 NBA season could cause the same frenzy. He enters his 20th NBA season that pays him $25 million, and the intrigue goes beyond whether he can stay healthy after his season ended abruptly for three consecutive years because of ailing injuries. The debate will linger on if this will mark Bryant’s last NBA season. All of which led the Lakers’ star to express uncertainty in blunt terms.

“Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t,” Bryant said. “Hell if I know. I don’t know.”

Bryant spoke those words without any hint of sarcasm or vagueness. The Lakers’ star maintained he has no idea what to expect on how well he and his teammates play, let alone whether he wants to prolong his NBA career.

The conventional wisdom suggests Bryant’s future will hinge on if he can stay healthy and how quickly the Lakers’ core of young players develop, two variables that will determine the length of the franchise’s current rebuilding project. But Bryant suggested other unforseen circumstances could emerge influence his thinking.

“Honestly, I don’t know,” Bryant said. “I’ve thought about it a little bit in terms of, what is the deciding factor? How do players actually know when it’s time to hang them up, truly? Everybody kind of gives you guys the standard cookie-cutter answers – relaxing, golfing, spending time with the family, things like that. But, really, how do you truly know? And I don’t know. I’ll have a much better answer when that time comes for me.”

But that will hardly stop anyone from offering take.

New York Knicks president and former Lakers coach Phil Jackson suggested Bryant may leave the Lakers for another NBA team this season, indirectly suggesting the Knicks as a possibility.

“I can’t spend my season responding to what everybody says,” Bryant said. “Everybody is going to have opinions. I can’t comment on every single opinion that everybody makes, even if it’s a coach that I won so many championships with and know extremely well. It’s still his opinion. There will be many others.”

Usually, the Lakers’ star would express annoyance over such a debate. Case in point, Bryant said sarcastically that he will make his announcement on his NBA future in two days. But Bryant seemed intrigued about the discussion, mindful it centers on a productive NBA career that has spanned five NBA championships and a third-place standing on the league’s all-time scoring list. Bryant will also soon become the lone Lakers player to play for the franchise for 20 seasons.

“It could get to become a pain in the [butt,],” Bryant said about the discussion surrounding his pending retirement. “But when I sit back and think about it, it’s actually cool, because it means that you’ve had a really good career and people want to know when the time is coming for you to hang ‘em up. Like me, don’t like me, [but people] respect the career that I’ve had. I think that’s a pretty damn cool thing.”

But Bryant has his limits.

He may have spoken to former New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter about his retirement last year as well as their recent business partnership with “The Players Tribune.” But Bryant did not sound interested in a farewell tour, even if the Lakers will honor him with unspecific tributes during home games to commemorate his 20th NBA season.

“We’re completely different people. I couldn’t do that,” Bryant said. “We joke that he and I couldn’t be any more opposite with personalities. It’s fun just kind of hearing his perspective and what he went through and kind of what triggered the decision for him to step away from the game. I don’t know what that’s going to be for me.”

Bryant maintains that feeling will linger for the next eight months, his thoughts dwelling more on how he can help the 2015-16 Lakers overachieve than determining when his last stand will take place.

“I don’t dwell on it too much, honestly. If it is, it is. If it isn’t, I’ll be ready for next season. I don’t spend too much time thinking about it. I’ve got enough to think about,” Bryant said. “We’ve got such a young team and a lot of things to solve. So I have to – in all seriousness – spend my energy thinking about that stuff. I’m not going to BS you guys. If I going to think about it or if I was going to make decision or if I knew, I’d say it. It’s no big deal to me. But I really have to focus on this group, because it is going to be a challenge to put this puzzle together.”

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Doc Rivers/Photo by Associated Press

Coach Doc Rivers on Monday talked about how spirited the first few days of camp have been at UC Irvine. There were two scrimmages this day, with the first and second units each winning one.

“It’s been good,” Rivers said. “And I think it’s been great for the starters because they have to deal with guys coming after them and not really showing them a lot of … you know, they’re just playing them.”

Newcomer Lance Stephenson has been playing with the second unit. He likes making the first unit sweat, and vice-versa.
“Definitely, we want them to work hard and we want them to push us at the same time, man,” he said. “That’s what Doc picked us up for and we came to help the team, to help the second unit and make it hard for them (the first unit) in practice. So come the game, they’ll be ready and we’ll be ready.”

Josh Smith/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets

Power forward Josh Smith likes a lot of things about his new team. The seriousness with which it has conducted itself the first three days of training camp is at the top of the list.

“It’s definitely competitive,” Smith said Monday from training camp at UC Irvine. “We see the vision early and what’s great about what’s going on is there is no air space for any BS, you know what I mean? There’s a lot of policing going around, which is great for the team to be able to kind of get everybody geared on the right vision and right direction to go.”

Which direction is that? Smith was asked.

“Winning the championship, finishing last,” he said.

Smith explained.

“Our owner (Steve Ballmer) had a team dinner a couple of days ago and that’s what really stuck to me,” he said. “Everybody always wants to be first, but it’s all about being last, finishing last, being the last team standing. And that really stuck with me. And if everyone has that mentality, we can do some special things this year. “

Lance Stephenson/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Clippers, Charlotte Hornets

Lance Stephenson on Monday afternoon stood inside the Bren Center at UC Irvine following the third of five training days there. Stephenson is one of the several new players on this Clippers team, and he was shaking his head when asked about the abundance of talent suiting up every day.

“The talent on this team, I mean, even when we’re playing in scrimmages, it feels like an All-Star game to me,” said Stephenson, a 6-foot-5 wing. “I feel like this squad has so many weapons and we’ve just gotta put it together and put in the pieces and work hard and bring it to guys.”

This will not be a boring team, Stephenson said. Quite the contrary.

“I mean, they was fun to watch before I got here,” he said. “So adding me and Josh (Smith), I mean, we’ve got Paul Pierce. We’ve got so many exciting players to watch, I think our team is the team to watch.”

Austin Rivers/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Clippers

It was Monday, the third day of training camp for the Clippers at UC Irvine. Third-year coach Doc Rivers has seen a lot in a short time, what with several new faces on the team.

But after practice, he was asked if any of the returning players had shown him anything new or surprising. He proceeded to speak specifically about his son, reserve guard Austin Rivers, and post DeAndre Jordan.

“I think Austin is playing more like the playoffs all the time now,” Doc Rivers said. “He’s been very good, hard to  stop. And then his defense has been great. But that’s something we saw at the end of the year, anyway, so I guess we expected that.

“Other than that, everybody’s just better. D.J.’s better. D.J.’s in great shape, he’s playing terrific. I guess D.J.’s passing has surprised me. He’s really making great passes from the post and we haven’t seen that.”

UCLA linebacker Kenny Young didn’t take much solace in the final score of the Bruins’ 56-30 win at Arizona on Saturday, focusing instead on the 353 yards they gave up on the ground.

“That’s embarrassing,” the sophomore said. “Look at how many yards we gave up. That’s embarrassing for me. That’s embarrassing to put on TV. … We missed 21 tackles. Come on, man. We’re supposed to be one of the top defenses, and we missed 21 tackles.”

Jamal Crawford/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Clippers

Jamal Crawford heard the rumors during the off-season, and he’s on Twitter, so he sees all that. He knew there were once again trade rumors with his name mentioned. With all the new player acquisitions, his departure seemed a possibility.

It was a bit nerve-racking, he said at training camp this week in Irvine.

“There were some stressful points, there were some points where it was like, you know what? It’s part of the business,” he said. “I was looking back, and from my first year here, the only three guys here who I played with are Blake (Griffin), D.J. (DeAndre Jordan) and Chris (Paul), and myself. So I guess in that time I’m one of those four guys who have been here. So, obviously, I’m where I’m supposed to be.”

Crawford, 35, is entering his 16th season, fourth with the Clippers.