Even in his 20th NBA season, the disciplined regimen of 19-time All-Star Los Angeles Lakers small forward LeBron James managed to make quite an impression on LA rookie two-way players Scotty Pippen Jr. and Cole Swider.
Pippen appeared on Swider’s eponymous podcast, The Cole Swider Show, while the duo was playing for LA’s Summer League team in Las Vegas. Their conversation covered a variety of topics, but lingered especially on what they learned about James’ routine as well as the heights his fame has reached.
LA ultimately opted to move on from both players when it came time to dole out its two-way contracts this summer.
Instead, the Lakers decided to ink former All-SEC First Team Florida center Colin Castleton, former All-SEC Tournament Team Missouri shooting guard D’Moi Hodge, and ex-Florida combo forward Alex Fudge to its three two-way slots during the offseason.
Pippen and Swider will have to get creative when it comes to sussing out their next NBA opportunity.
Los Angeles does still technically have two open roster spots which it could theoretically use on them, but it sounds like the Lakers are hoping to add a center into their 14th standard roster opening and then leave the 15th spot vacant heading into the 2023-24 season.
James is set to earn a projected $99 million across the next two seasons with LA. He’ll be 40, and wrapping up his 22nd NBA season when he next reaches free agency — unless he opts out of the final year of his deal next summer. His insane productivity at this late stage of his career is a testament to the efficacy of his investment in his physical upkeep.
Across his 55 healthy contests during the regular season in 2022-23, he averaged 28.9 points on .500/.321/.768 shooting splits, 8.3 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 0.9 steals a night. He also helped LA reach the Western Conference by turning up the defensive pressure in the postseason.
