Despite a rough season, the Los Angeles Lakers remain one of the popular teams in all of global sports. Their reach often expands overseas as is the case with women’s basketball star Diana Taurasi who currently plays in the Russian Premier League.
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While appearing on Grantland’s Basketball Hour, Taurasi discussed her NBA viewing habits while mentioning she would often watch games in the morning as a result of the time difference. She named the teams she viewed and listed the Lakers in her viewing schedule. However, she admitted to tuning out as the season wore on:
In the East coast, I tried to watch Cleveland because that was a story to watch. Every night, how’s Cleveland? So Cleveland, Chicago, and then my beloved Lakers which by mid-March weren’t getting watched anymore.
She also brought up Steve Nash as the NBA player she would like to play with. As for current players, she chose the Lakers’ own Kobe Bryant:
Taurasi grew up in Chino, Calif. and starred for Don Antonio Lugo High School before winning three national titles with UConn and three WNBA championships with the Phoenix Mercury. It is no surprise she spent her childhood years rooting on the Lakers and Bryant while living in Southern California.
Now older, she still holds the Lakers dearly but finds it difficult to watch as the team continues to lose. The Lakers hope they can turn things around over the off-season. The team owns a protected top-five draft pick and will learn their selection fate May 19 during the NBA Draft Lottery. Free agency will also be an important tool given the team’s ample cap room available to offer contracts.
There is some optimism to be held around Bryant’s return to the roster as well as Jordan Clarkson’s continued growth. Julius Randle will also be looking to come back from his own injury and make his mark on the Lakers and the league.
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