Austin Reaves, Lakers have Nuggets' ring night circled - ESPN

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — The Los Angeles Lakers' regular-season opener against the Denver Nuggets might still be three weeks away, but after hearing the defending champions talk all summer, L.A. already sounds ready for it.

After the Nuggets swept the Lakers in the Western Conference finals and went on to defeat the Miami Heat for the title, Denver coach Michael Malone was introduced as «the Lakers' daddy» during the team's parade celebration. Malone also mocked LeBron James' comments following the loss to Denver when he told ESPN he would contemplate retirement during the offseason.

«Speaking of the Lakers, I just want you guys to know — this is breaking news — I'm thinking about retiring so don't tell anybody,» Malone said as a guest on «The Pat McAfee Show.»

Anthony Davis, speaking to Spectrum SportsNet during media day Monday called all the trash talk «motivational.» He added, «There was just so much of that going on it was like, 'All right, we get it, y'all won.' But me and Bron had some conversations like, 'We can't wait (to play them again.)'»

Lakers guard Austin Reaves also took umbrage with the Denver discourse.

«I think everybody knows it was pointed at us,» Reaves said after the first practice of training camp Tuesday. «They can do it indirectly if they want, but I think it was very obvious to the public eye. That's why everybody was talking about it.»

James seemingly addressed Malone on his Instagram in June, without acknowledging his former assistant coach with the Cleveland Cavaliers by name. «I hear I'm on your mind that much, huh??? I mean I guess I see why… Enjoy your light but just know I'm the SUN.»

Lakers coach Darvin Ham joined the «This League Uncut» podcast the following month and vowed, «This s---