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Lakers Nation > Blog > Lakers News > Lakers Legend Jamaal Wilkes Believes Team Needs ‘Clean Slate’ Without Kobe Bryant
Lakers News

Lakers Legend Jamaal Wilkes Believes Team Needs ‘Clean Slate’ Without Kobe Bryant

Trevor Lane
Published: 10/02/2016
3 Min Read
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The Los Angeles Lakers have a long history filled with superstars, many of whom have their numbers retired and their jerseys hanging in the rafters of the Staples Center. One such player is Jamaal Wilkes, the All-Star small forward who helped bring three championships to Los Angeles.

Wilkes has remained connected to the Lakers since retiring in 1986, and his son, Jordon, is currently a basketball operations assistant with the team. The Lakers like to bring their Hall-of-Fame alumni back to meet with the team when they can, so it’s no surprise that Wilkes was in attendance at training camp in Santa Barbara.

NBA TV sat down with Wilkes to discuss what the team needs to do in order to get back to their winning ways.

“It helped to have Dr. Buss and Jerry West and Bill Sharman and those guys….I think this year it’s going to involve a lot of trust and a lot of patience, and a lot of learning. A core group that’s going to have to take responsibility and hold each other accountable.”

Wilkes is certainly right that a lot of learning is going to have to take place this season. The Lakers employ not only a young roster but also a young coaching staff with 36-year-old Luke Walton at the helm. With star guard Kobe Bryant now retired, the club is clearly entering a new era, which Wilkes notes also gives ownership to the team’s core:

“I think they have to try and clean the slate. It was such an unusual year to have an iconic Laker such as Kobe, and the media circus around it, retire. I think they have to clean the slate and they have to realize that it’s up to them.”

It’s going to be an interesting season in Los Angeles as the Lakers attempt to develop their stars of the future. If all goes according to plan, they will use this season to set a foundation to build upon for years to come.

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TAGGED:Jamaal WilkesKobe BryantLos Angeles Lakers
ByTrevor Lane
Trevor Lane is a longtime NBA and Los Angeles Lakers fan who had the good fortune to grow up during the glory days of the Showtime Lakers, when Magic Johnson, Kareem-Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, and the rest ruled the Great Western Forum. He has written about basketball, soccer, fantasy sports, MMA, and even pro wrestling over the course of his career, but the spectacle that is the Lakers is his true passion. He made the leap into podcasting for Lakers Nation and provides voice-over analysis for our YouTube channel. With a who's who of stars gracing the Lakers lineup over the years, including Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Shaquille O'Neal, Pau Gasol, and many others, the Lakers always provide plenty to talk about. When he isn't writing or recording, Trevor can be found spending time with his wife and daughter or on the sidelines for one of the youth teams he coaches. Outside of the Lakers, Trevor is a supporter of the LA Galaxy, US Soccer, Dallas Cowboys, and Los Angeles Dodgers. Contact: trevor@mediumlargela.com
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