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This month, the Lakers have six preseason games scheduled, all on the road due to planned renovations at Crypto.com Arena. Since 2021, the venue has been undergoing extensive renovations, forcing the Lakers to tour prior to the start of the regular season on October 22. Previously, the team played two preseason games in Palm Desert, California, about two hours from its training center.
New Lakers coach JJ Redick admitted that the travel schedule is not optimal, especially compared to previous years when the team often played multiple games at home and in nearby cities. Now, they must travel extensively before the regular season, including their game against the Bucks, a previously agreed-upon trade with Milwaukee that is part of an agreement to play one home game and one road game.
D’Angelo Russell, the team’s point guard, said he understands the difficulties these trips can pose for players like James and Anthony Davis, who competed during the summer. However, he noted that most players are eager to get back on the court and experience the energy of the crowd: “We’re hungry. We want to go out and play and see how the crowd responds.”
