The Los Angeles Lakers have reportedly decided who will start the season opener vs. the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center on Tuesday night next to LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, and Anthony Davis.
According to Yahoo’s Chris Haynes, Lakers head coach Frank Vogel will tap Kent Bazemore and DeAndre Jordan to fill out the starting five.
At his media availability on Monday, Vogel said the Lakers had decided on starters but declined to share the lineup. Following practice on Friday, Vogel cracked that he would — as per usual — reveal the starting lineup approximately 30 minutes before tip-off, as is required.
Based on reporting throughout the offseason and Davis’ own comments at Media Day in September, many folks likely expected to see AD as the starting center to begin the 2021-22 campaign. Of course, AD could still see the bulk of the minutes — either on Tuesday and/or over the course of the season — at the 5.
Vogel recently said that he’d like to have some consistency with the starters, though the team will mix-and-match based on the opponent and health.
The Lakers rotation has already been compromised with injuries to Talen Horton-Tucker, Trevor Ariza, and Wayne Ellington — each of whom was a candidate to start. It’s possible Vogel will re-jigger the starters as those guys come off the injured list.
Ellington (hamstring strain) is essentially day-to-day, while THT (thumb surgery) and Ariza (ankle surgery) will be sidelined for multiple weeks.
Frank Vogel injury updates for the Lakers season opener:
Wayne Ellington (hamstring): OUT
Kendrick Nunn (ankle): Questionable
Malik Monk (groin strain): Probable
(THT and Ariza are out, obviously)— Michael Corvo (@michaelcorvoNBA) October 18, 2021
Vogel is on the record stating his preference to use Dwight Howard as a sparkplug off the bench, hence Jordan getting the nod. DJ was a ceremonial starter for 43 games for the Brooklyn Nets in 2020-21, then was fully excluded from the rotation in the postseason.
It’s a nice opportunity for Bazemore, who candidly shared what starting for this star-studded group would mean to him.
Appreciated this honest answer from Kent Bazemore to @mcten on if being named a starter for the Lakers would be extra-meaningful: pic.twitter.com/ONb7pgsc4X
— Michael Corvo (@michaelcorvoNBA) October 15, 2021
On the other side, the Golden State Warriors will start Stephen Curry, Jordan Poole, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green, and Kevon Looney for Game 1 of 82. Let’s hoop.
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