Rookie Crittendon talks about transition to LA and upcoming season with Lakers

Jarvis Crittendon, newly signed to the LA Lakers as of last month, said he is finally settling down in his new base city and that Los Angeles is starting to feel like home, according to an interview with the point guard published by the NBA on the Lakers’ official Web site. Crittendon, who played college basketball for Georgia Tech and was one of the lead scorer for his team, has spent most of his summer traveling between Atlanta and LA, he said, so finding a place to be grounded has been welcomed by the newest NBA teammate. With the season and training camp coming up on him quickly, the rookie said he has been focusing on getting into the best shape possible by hitting the gym and has been working at ball handling and his jump shot during pick-up games in order to stay on top of what will be expected of him once season play starts up. “I’m just trying to get adjusted to my teammates and the city. I also had a little “Welcome to LA” party, but that’s about it besides being in the gym and getting ready for training camp and the season. It’s a big season for me, it’s the NBA, there’s no room to take breaks like that.”

Besides getting adjusted, Crittendon also talked of his close relationship with his family and how it was hard to leave that behind. Although he would like to move his family out to West Coast so that he could still spend the same amount of time with them, he admitted that what was best for his younger sister was to stay in Atlanta and have a stable base with school and her friends. That’s why Crittendon recently bought his mother a new house in Atlanta, he said, mentioning that he hopes he can be fully adjusted to the differences between an Atlanta and Los Angeles lifestyle - heavy traffic and all - by the time his season starts up. “Overall, I’m just happy to be here,” Crittendon said. “I’m happy to be a Laker. This season that’s coming up is very important to me. I can’t wait till I step out onto that floor (at STAPLES Center) wearing the gold with the Lights Out and the Lakers on the middle of the floor.”

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