The Los Angeles Lakers are a team filled with veterans, all with one goal of winning a championship. Forward Jared Dudley is one of those veterans determined to help this team win a title this season, and his leadership on this squad has been receiving a lot of high praise lately.

Earlier this week, Alex Caruso named Dudley and LeBron James as the two players on the team that have shown the most leadership during this difficult time. Lakers head coach Frank Vogel confirmed Dudley's impact on his teammates in the leadership category on a Zoom call on Friday.

“One of the reasons we've had success in our season to this point is because not only do we have two mega stars in LeBron and Anthony, but we've had several guys that have starred in their roles,” Vogel said. “Whether you're talking about perimeter defensive types of guys or our centers contributing by committee and I would put Jared Dudley in that boat or being a star in his role.

“He has really impacted our team's togetherness and chemistry and quite frankly brought a great deal of leadership to make sure that we're all going about our business the right way and having the right attitude and doing things together. Just strengthening that chemistry and togetherness, which has really helped us to this point. I would call Jared Dudley a star in his role from the standpoint of doing all those types of things.”

With the way Dudley has been able to sustain a playing career in the NBA and make an impact on all the teams he's been on, it might not be out of the realm of possibility that coaching in the league is in his future. He continues to be a vocal leader for the Lakers with his teammates and coaches have nothing but good things to say about the veteran journeyman.

As for how often he'll see the floor in Orlando, that also remains to be seen, especially with all the added firepower the team has brought in like J.R. Smith, Dion Waiters, and Markieff Morris. Regardless of playing time during the eight seeding games and playoffs that will follow, Dudley's presence will be crucial as his value extends well beyond the basketball floor.