By
Juan Toscano-Anderson Warriors wear many hats Last season, he went from starting games to serving as a key role player off the bench.
And later Signing with the Los Angeles Lakers In free agency this offseason, he’s looking to carve out a new identity.
At Lakers media day on Monday, Toscano-Anderson was asked if he felt Los Angeles would provide more opportunities to showcase his skill set, and The answer spoke volumes. Not only from the Warriors tradition he left behind, but from former teammate Klay Thompson.
“I want to tread lightly when I answer that question, because I don’t think I’ve been hindered in Golden State,” Toscano-Anderson said. “I think it’s the difference between them [Los Angeles] And the golden state is that there are many new faces here. The whole roster is, more or less, new, and so we’re all trying to figure it out and figure out where we fit in.
“The thing about Golden State is, Klay Thompson has been there 10 years. “When Klay Thompson comes back, it doesn’t matter who’s there, you’ve got to get out of the way.”
Toscano-Anderson averaged 13.6 minutes for the Warriors last season after logging 20.9 minutes in the 2020-21 COVID-shortened season. Still, he appeared in 89 percent of the Warriors’ 82 regular-season games, compared to 73 percent last season.
Considering Toscano-Anderson’s spot on the wing in 2021-22, Thompson’s return to the court after injury on Jan. 9 left one small hole for the backup.
But Toscano-Anderson understands Thompson’s impact on the court and the key role the entire Warriors core will play.
“They’ve got guys with longevity there. They’ve got a culture there, and I think that’s the difference,” Toscano-Anderson said. “So it doesn’t matter if I play well or not, when Klay Thompson comes back, we all know what the deal is. That’s the way it is.”
Ultimately, both players contributed to their fourth NBA championship in eight seasons.
“That’s the way the game is,” Toscano-Anderson continued. “Sometimes you get in a situation where things like this happen. He still won a championship. I was very satisfied with the way my season went last year.
Toscano-Anderson averaged 4.1 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists last season while shooting 48.9 percent from the field and 32.2 percent from behind the 3-point line.
Now, he’s looking to make an impact as one of several fresh faces with the Lakers, but this time With stars like LeBron JamesRussell Westbrook and Anthony Davis.
“But like I said going forward here: new faces, new opportunity, unknown with all the guys coming in and trying to find a place on this team,” Toscano-Anderson said. I think this works for me because we all start at square one.
Related: JTA wears a Lakers jersey and expresses an ovation from Dub Nation
And even though he’s no longer with the Warriors, it’s clear that Toscano-Anderson still has a lot of respect for his former teammate, Thompson.
“Unlike me, we all have the same opportunity to compete against a guy who’s a three-time champion,” Toscano-Anderson continued. “I mean, I’m not going to win this war. And you know, there was no war. Clay is Clay, he deserves that spot.
“So I don’t think I was banned there. But looking at the makeup of our roster this year, I think there’s a little more opportunity with the Lakers.
As Toscano-Anderson observes Make a name for yourself In the City of Angels, former Golden State fan favorite Dub Nation can be sure to be rooting for him — until the start of the regular season.
