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SPORTS Tuesday 2 OcTOber 2018

JAMES He was cheered from the
Continued from Page 17 minute he ran onto the court
He finished with nine points, with his new teammates for
three rebounds and four warmups. He played the
assists in just more than 15 first eight minutes before
minutes. being subbed out.
"It was great to get back on When he came back
the floor and then just start in midway through the
a new journey for myself second quarter, he was
and hear the Lakers fans greeted by a roar.
that we have here in San As he stood near the
Diego," said James, who scorer's table during a
was married here in 2013. video review, a fan yelled:
"It was great feeling to go "LeBron, we love you!" and
out there and hear the roar the superstar responded
from the fans here. I very with a hang-loose sign.
much appreciate it." Walton said James and
The three-time NBA Rondo "were great. Their
champion, four-time NBA commitment to pushing
MVP and 14-time All-Star it, defensively. I thought
said he played a little more the first group as a whole
than expected, "and I felt played really well, to start.
pretty good." Both groups were fouling Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) grabs a rebound over Denver Nuggets forward Paul
Seeing James in a Lakers way too much. They hit Millsap (4) during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game, Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018, in
San Diego.
uniform for the first time "was 30-some free throws. It's Associated Press
awesome," said coach going to be tough to win a
Luke Walton, who grew game like that. But there's Kareem Abdul-Jabbar operations and James was
up in San Diego. "When some new rules we have made a buzzer-beating sky the prized acquisition of an
you're coaching the Lakers to get adjusted to from this hook, Johnson hugged the offseason roster revamp.
and you look out and see summer. The first group I center like they'd just won As a kid, Walton used to
LeBron wearing your team's thought played really well, the championship. Seven watch his father, Bill, play
colors, it' a pretty good obviously being led by the months later, they did win for the Clippers, although
feeling." two of them out there." the NBA title. the Hall of Famer's years in
While the Lakers have a Asked before the game Johnson is now the Lakers' his hometown were largely
lot to work on, fans hope what stands out about president of basketball marred by injuries.q
James' arrival will turn things James, Walton said, "His
around after the worst half- intelligence. He sees
decade in the franchise's everything. He knows even
lengthy history. before drills. He knows
He left the Cleveland where he's going. His work
Cavaliers for a four-year, ethic. He's out there pre-
$153.3 million free-agent practice with the guys,
deal with the Lakers. post-practice with the guys.
"It always feels different for Taking care of his body in
me anytime you change the weight room.
uniforms," he said. "It felt "He's the ultimate
different when I changed professional."
from wearing a St. Vincent- The Lakers' regular-
St. Mary jersey to wearing season opener is Oct. 18
a Cavs jersey from a Cavs at Portland. Their home
jersey to a Heat jersey, back opener is two nights later
to a Cavs jersey and now against Houston.
being a Laker. It definitely This was another big night
feels different and takes a for an L.A. basketball team
little bit of time getting used at San Diego's sports arena.
to." He, Rondo and fellow In 1975, John Wooden
veterans McGee, Lance coached his final game
Stephenson and Michael here, leading UCLA to
Beasley signed to team its 10th NCAA title in 12
with the Lakers' talented seasons. In 1979, Johnson
young core. made his NBA debut when
James was the focus on Los Angeles beat the
and off the court Sunday then-San Diego Clippers in
night. the season opener. After