New Practice Facility Leaves an Impression

Coach Phil Jackson gave his players their first look at the team’s new El Segundo headquarters Thursday, sending them through a short practice after their flight home from a 6-0 Eastern trip.

“We came and occupied our new space,” he said. “I had them pick up the balls and shoot for 10 minutes and I talked to them for 10 minutes. And, hopefully, they got a feel for how to get here and what it’s like inside, so it’s not a complete mystery tomorrow.”

The Lakers, for the first time in their history, have moved into a practice facility they can call home. Previously this season, their workouts alternated between Staples Center, the Great Western Forum and Southwest College.

Their new, permanent practice site is part of a six-acre, $24-million complex, owned by the Kings, that also houses the Kings’ headquarters and practice rinks.

“It still smells like paint,” said Laker forward Robert Horry after emerging from the still-under-construction facility. “It’s really nice. I’m really impressed. We’ve got a nice weight room in there, a nice steam room--a lot of nice things that the body really needs nowadays to help your longevity.”

Forward Rick Fox, among the last to leave after Thursday’s short session, also gave the new digs a thumbs-up.

“It allows you to have a home to work on, whatever it is you need to work on--whether it’s on the court or off,” he said. “It’s all in one place. And on top of that, if you need to talk to management, they’re right upstairs.

“Everything is centrally located, which I’m sure everyone who has been here before has been waiting on for a while. I’m glad it came in my tenure here.”

Jackson said the facility had a “good feel” to it.

He better hope so.

“One thing the players won’t like is that now I’ll start asking them to work five-hour days on practice days,” Jackson said. “They’re bound to be here a little bit longer than they’ve ever been before. At the other places, we couldn’t do anything but play basketball.”

Fox won’t mind.

“It definitely entices you to stay around for extended hours,” he said. “It’s very comfortable.”