And Byron Scott hopes they will help bring back the championship days that he was so much a part of with the Los Angeles Lakers.
"I feel real good about being here," said the veteran guard, who will be starting his 14th NBA season after signing a free-agent contract with his former team a few weeks ago.
"I feel real positive about this team, what we can do this year. I look forward to being a part of it."
Scott, who went to high school in the shadow of the Fabulous Forum, was a member of three Lakers title teams - in 1985, 1987 and 1988.
The 35-year-old Scott played his first 10 years with the Lakers, joining such all-time greats as Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James Worthy.
He averaged 10.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 23.7 minutes in 80 games for the Vancouver Grizzlies last season.
He played for Indiana the two previous seasons - both Pacers teams making the playoffs - but it was with the Lakers that he made his mark after being drafted in the first round by the Clippers as the fourth pick overall in 1983.
Scott was then traded to the Lakers with Swen Nater for guards Norm Nixon and Eddie Jordan and draft picks.
It was an unpopular deal at the time because Nixon was a fan favorite, but it sure paid off for the Lakers - and for Scott.
"I don't have just one memory," he said of the Showtime days, when the Forum was rocking game after game. "I can't count the great times I've had on one hand, or even two hands."
Scott said he hopes to play an important role for the young and talented Lakers.
"I'm a guy who can come off the bench and knock down 3s, score points for you, give leadership to the younger guys. A guy who has a world of experience in big games. That's what I bring to this team."
He also is excited about playing with Shaquille O'Neal, who was the biggest free-agent acquisition in the off-season, when the Lakers shuffled their deck more than at any time in franchise history.
"Playing with Shaq is going to be tremendous. I think one of the reasons they wanted me to come here was because of my outside shooting," he said, as a crowd of media members gathered around the nearby Shaq after a morning practice this week.
"Everybody knows he's going to get double and triple-teamed, so he might have to kick it out and guys might be able to nail down jump shots. That's been my forte for 13 years. It will be a big thrill to play with him."
THE Arizona State product has averaged 14.7 points per game in his regular-season career and 13.7 in the playoffs.
He has played in 994 regular-season games and 175 playoff games.
Lakers head coach Del Harris is glad to have Scott aboard, especially with so many new faces on the roster.
"He's a good guy, which is always good for chemistry. He's a veteran guy who has experienced a lot of success with his career. He is an excellent shooter, he understands the game very well and is a smart player.
"So all those things blend in and give help to what's pretty much a young team."
Scott said the future has arrived for the Lakers.
"We could win it all," he said with a smile. "We've got what it takes right now - not two years from now or three years from now. Right now."
How long will he keep firing up the long jumpers and running up and down the court?
"It depends on how I feel. Physically, I feel great. Playing with a bunch of young guys makes you feel young."
Then he paused and looked out on the court.
"As long as I can still shoot it, I'll be around."