Lakers Assistant Coach Phil Handy Weighs In On Washed Narrative

For most of this offseason, the Los Angeles Lakers have been label old and washed. However, it is something that the Lakers brass has embraced and motivated to prove the rest of the league wrong.
On Tuesday morning during media day interviews, LeBron James let the world know that their narrative being too old is funny to him.
“The narrative about our age, I kind of laugh at it,” LeBron said on Tuesday. “… Some of the jokes and some of the memes have been extremely funny.”
Carmelo Anthony was recently asked about their age during an interview with Complex.
“It’s all about debate. We get it. We understand it,” Anthony said. “This is what you guys have to do. We understand that and we laugh at it and take it with a grain of salt and move on because everybody on the outside have their opinions about it and we’re the ones who know who we are. We know what we have to do. We know how we going to do it. Those are the things we have to deal with.”
In a recent interview with Bally Sports’ Brandon Scoop B’ Robinson, Lakers assistant coach Phil Handy stated that they had some wise players. However, it also called the too old narrative a misconception.
I think that’s just a misconception of the non-basketball heads. I call them non-basketball heads because anybody that thinks that we’re old and washed, doesn’t really know much about the game,” said Handy.
“Basketball has moved to a lot of younger talent, a younger generation, but we got some WISE players on this team. They know their bodies, what they can do, they know where they are in their careers, and I mean, they can call us washed – we’ll take that, but I think they’re all ready to go to build their chemistry together.”
Landon Buford is an accomplished sports and entertainment journalist based in Richardson, Texas, with over a decade of experience covering the NBA, WNBA, NFL, WWE, MLB, and the entertainment industry. Known for delivering high-impact stories and headline-making interviews, Buford has earned a global audience through content that blends insider access with compelling storytelling.
He previously served as director of editorial and brand communications at PlayersTV, where he helped shape the platform’s editorial voice and brand identity. He is also the founder and editor-in-chief of LandonBuford.com—an independent outlet with more than 1.6 million views and syndication from major platforms including Bleacher Report, Sports Illustrated and Yahoo Sports. Buford’s interviews with stars like Gary Payton, Kevin Durant, Mark Cuban and Chris Paul showcase his talent for meaningful, in-depth conversations.
His bylines have appeared in Sports Illustrated, Forbes, Heavy.com, Meta’s Bulletin and One37pm, where he has contributed exclusive interviews, breaking news and cultural insights. At Heavy.com, his work drew more than a million views in just eight months, and at One37pm, it contributed to record-breaking traffic numbers.
His work highlights the intersection of sports, fashion, music, and entrepreneurship—showcasing how athletes and entertainers use their platforms to inspire change, influence trends, and shape culture beyond the game. Landon has interviewed a wide range of figures from the NBA, NFL, and entertainment industries, consistently bringing authentic voices and untold stories to the forefront.
In addition to his journalism, Buford is an entrepreneur and content creator, dedicated to amplifying diverse narratives and driving meaningful conversations across media platforms. His passion for storytelling, culture, and innovation continues to make him a respected voice in the evolving landscape of sports and entertainment media.
