The last game of the 2012-13 season featured Darius Morris and Andrew Goudelock as the starting backcourt for the Los Angeles Lakers. After adding three perimeter players to the roster this summer, the Los Angeles Lakers’ backcourt has quickly become crowded.
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Jodie Meeks remains with the Lakers after the team picked up his option this off-season and in a phone interview with ESPNLA’s Dave McMenamin, Meeks believes a personal opportunity was lost after he suffered a third-degree ankle sprain:
“It was really bad timing. I was really frustrated just because, selfishly, I was like “Man, I can get as many shots as I want now and I can’t even play.’ I felt it was a good opportunity for me to kind of showcase what I could do on a more productive level because the guys were hurt.”
Heading into this season, Meeks is preparing for another big opportunity as the status of Kobe Bryant’s return remains unclear:
“Telling myself that it’s a really big opportunity for myself to show what I can do. Regardless of what the situation is, I’m going into this last month, month and a half of summer training thinking I’m going to be playing major minutes or possibly starting. If that doesn’t happen, then it just doesn’t happen, but I think that’s mentally what I have to think about.”
In his first season with the Lakers, Meeks had moments where he demonstrated his three-point marksmanship but consistently played with great energy on the defensive end.
Meeks will need to be more consistent with his perimeter shooting and continue his defensive efforts if he wants to be Kobe’s primary back-up this upcoming season. There is much more competition in the backcourt, and Meeks will have to earn his minutes.
This past season, Meeks averaged 7.9 points while shooting 36 percent from three-point land. He was one of the few Lakers who remained healthy as he appeared in 78 games.
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