The job description calls for Jose Calderon to work hard in practice without any guaranteed playing time. The Lakers want him to mentor the team’s younger players without any assurances he will receive anything in return. And the Lakers expect Calderon to stay ready to step on the court on short notice.
Despite that challenging framework, the early returns suggests Calderon can fulfill that challenge. While Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell missed his second game in a week because of persisting knee soreness, the Lakers secured a 111-109 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday at Staples Center for reasons beyond Nick Young making a game-winning 3-pointer.