Lakers takeaways: Nick Smith Jr. shines with | College News
Nick Smith Jr. placed his newest souvenir nonchalantly underneath the press conference table. This game ball will likely go to his mother.
Smith earned it Sunday with a starring performance off the bench while filling in for the injured Reaves. The 21-year-old guard on a two-way contract scored 21 points on eight-for-14 shooting with three rebounds and one assist. He made five three-pointers, including his first four from beyond the arc while starting seven-for-seven from the field.
With Reaves sidelined for at least a month with a grade two pressure in his left calf, Smith shall be in line for more constant minutes, Redick said before the sport. Especially with fellow guard Gabe Vincent lacking his fourth recreation because of a back injury Sunday, the Lakers need Smith’s ball handling and shiftiness alongside James and Doncic.
But to offset the loss of their second-leading scorer, the Lakers are most determined for Smith’s scoring.
“It’s why we wanted him on the Lakers and part of our program, because we knew he could score,” Redick said. “I like when he’s aggressive. … If he could just do him within our structure, a lot of times, good things happen.”
Smith has already flashed his scoring potential in big moments. The former first-round draft decide who signed with the Lakers a day before training camp began rescued the staff with 25 factors in Portland in a recreation without James, Doncic or Reaves. He had 12 factors in 14 minutes off the bench against Toronto when the Lakers survived thanks to a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Rui Hachimura.
“We trust him,” Redick said before the sport.
After getting waived by the Charlotte Hornets, Smith acknowledged that he hasn’t had this stage of trust from a teaching employees “in a long time.” To have it “means everything,” he added.
“It’s a different stage, you know, where I came from, and I understand that,” Smith said. “So I just want to make sure I’m ready. … I’m just blessed to be here, just have the opportunity just to even play with the Lakers and stuff like that, even be in the league. A lot of guys where I’m from would, like, love to be in this situation.”
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