He usually would only get in during garbage time, which is all that is expected out of a rookie second-round pick.This year, James is determined to win a spot in the rotation and show the rest of the NBA that he can play at this level.

James was reportedly asked by ESPN if he wanted to share thoughts on picking up his $52.6 million player option and speculation surrounding a supposed strained relationship with ownership, but he declined. "I ain't got nothing to talk about," ESPN's Dave McMenamin said James told him off camera.

The Los Angeles Lakers have been heavily in the NBA rumor mill over the last week. Most of those rumors have been connected to the future of superstar forward LeBron James. James decided to opt into the final year of his contract with the Lakers,