This year’s Lakers training camp had a different feel. Of course, there was the unique sight of LeBron James playing alongside his son, Bronny, for the first time. Plus, the usual pre-season excitement was in the air as tip-off approached.
But what really changed the atmosphere was the presence of a surprise DJ, who energized the training facility with his beats while the Lakers stars trained for the season ahead. “It (the idea) came from LeBron,” JJ Redick shared.
While many things stayed the same for the Lakers this year, including a mostly unchanged roster with a few new rookies, there were still some noticeable shifts. One of the biggest was JJ Redick stepping in as head coach, bringing an intensity the team hadn’t seen before in their practices.
However, the most unexpected twist was having a live DJ in the facility during the first week of camp. It’s not exactly what you’d expect in a professional training session.
The DJ, known as DJ Meel, hails from Cleveland, Ohio. He completed a program in Musical Supervision at UCLA and has even done live sets for Uninterrupted’s Instagram platform.
You can spot him working his magic in the background, but you’ll hear his beats the moment you step into the building.
It’s that familiar thump of hip-hop bass, cranked up to the max, the kind you’d usually hear in neighborhoods across the country. But this time, it’s coming from inside the UCLA Health and Training Center.
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“It came from LeBron,” Redick explained after practice on Wednesday. “He requested that there be a DJ before and after practice. I said to him in front of the group, ‘I like the vibe. Can he continue to be here?’ I don’t know if that’s an indefinite ask or if it’s a temporary thing. I don’t know; we’re going to figure it out. Also, we have to figure out who’s footing the bill.”
While it’s likely the Lakers will handle the cost, who knows? Maybe Rob Pelinka, the vice president of basketball operations, will help keep the tunes rolling.
Redick wasn’t the only one fielding questions about the DJ. The players also chimed in on DJ Meel’s impact during camp.
“This just brings good vibes,” Austin Reaves said after Wednesday’s practice. “You walk in the morning and you’ve got blasted music. You can hear it all the way in the locker room. You obviously hear it in the weight room. That’s where it’s the loudest, but it’s just good vibes, and we’re all just out here having a good time while putting in the work at the same time.”
And if you’re wondering if any of the players might hop on the turntables, don’t worry. DJ Meel is in full control.
“DJ Meel chooses the songs,” Redick added. “Nobody’s got the aux chord but him.”
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