Former Los Angeles shooting guard challenges young guys to “step up” amid injuries

ByNBAUSA



Let me say The Los Angeles Lakers’ 2025-26 season went according to plan it would be a big mistake.

Entering the season with huge expectations, The Lakers’ big three have rarely been healthy at the same timeand their record shows it, with JJ Redick’s team sitting in fifth place in the West at 32-20.

Discussing how Los Angeles can get to and through the All-Star break before crunch time below, the former Lakers shooting guard Danny Green challenged the team’s young players to step up, because they can provide the energy and effort that makes it so eases the burden on vets.

“I mean, they’re younger, so they should be able to sustain the effort and the energy longer, but he’s 41 years old. He’s older, he’s probably tired, but the group, those other younger guys, have to step up, find ways to keep it up. I give them some grace,” Green explained.

“They haven’t been completely healthy all year. Luka’s been out, and they just can’t recover. AR’s out. Even when AR’s on a minutes limit, they’re still trying to figure it out. So I know the frustrations he’s going through. He’s trying to get to the All-Star break right now. He probably needs a little wine week or something. Give yourself a break against the wine. You don’t have expectations for them.”

Of the 10 players on the Lakers’ roster who have played at least 500 minutes, none were signed to rookie contractswith only two, Jake LaRavia and Jackson Hayes, 25 or younger. While Dalton Knecht has 472 minutes and counts as the Lakers’ bench scorer, his teammates, Nick Smith Cr, Brony James, Drew Thiem and Adu Tierro, have all played less than 200 minutes this season despite having the advantage. If the Lakers want to keep their vets fresh and be without LeBron James, Austin Reeves and Luka Doncic, maybe DG is right, and the young guys could help add energy without limiting the team’s ceiling.





2026-02-10 23:33:00

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