When you think of great Lakers who played center, Shaquille O’Neal, Wilt Chamberlain, and Kareem Abdul Jabbar come to mind. But today, Thomas Bryant staked his claim to fame with a performance for the ages.
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In a nail-biting win over the Sacramento Kings, Bryant, along with LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, and Dennis Schroeder, put on a show. He could barely put a foot wrong, dominating Domantas Sabonis all night. He finished the night with 29 points, 2 points shy of his career high.
But that 2-point gap was more than enough with his incredible shooting touch. Shooting a frankly puzzling 85.6% from the field, Bryant looked like he was playing connect the dots with the ball. For the 25-year-old, everything seemed to be falling into place.
To go with his season-high 29-point outburst, the Lakers center also grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds. The combination of an incredible shooting night and his penchant to outmuscle centers for the ball put him in a category only meant for Laker royalty.
He is only the fourth player, after Kobe Bryant and Anthony Davis, to average at least 28 points, 14 rebounds, and an 85% shooting percentage.
How important is Thomas Bryant to the current Lakers squad?
Thomas Bryant did not appear for the Los Angeles Lakers until the 14th game. In the 13 games he did not play, the Lakers won three games. Yes, 3. The number that Anthony Davis wears so proudly on his jersey. And then, since his return to action, he has missed one game.
He’s played 26 games since, winning 15 and losing just 11. Since his return from injury, the Lakers have gone 4 over .500 and have been strong for the most part.
There is one statistic that jumps out quite immediately when you see his minutes played. In most of the games that the Lakers lost, Bryant played fewer than 25 minutes. He’s featured in 11 losses this season, and in six games, he played fewer than 25 minutes. It seems like a pretty obvious correlation.
Darwin Ham should look to integrate Thomas Bryant into the team, even when Anthony Davis returns. A starting five of Dennis Schroeder, Austin Reaves, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Thomas Bryant should be the best for the Lakers.
Also Read: “The Kid From Akron”: NBA Reddit Speculates What LeBron James’ Statue Will Say Post His Retirement
The Prodigal Son was Not Lonzo Ball or Julius Randle – It was Kobe Bryant’s namesake
During the Lakers’ rebuilding phase, they drafted a lot of current stars in the league. From D’Angelo Russell to Julius Randle, they have had the eye for talent but not the patience to watch it grow. One name on this list was Thomas Bryant.
Drafted in 2017, one year before Lonzo, Thomas did not get to play with Kobe Bryant. But he had the name of the star, and fans were eager to see if he was going to be any good. 1 year with the Lakers, 15 games played, 1.5 PPG, and he was out to the Washington Wizards.
He did not let that move deter him; instead, he doubled down and solidified his reputation. He’s finally back with the team that drafted him, and he hasn’t looked back since. Multiple 20-point, 10-rebound games later, he’s looking like the center the Lakers have been looking for.
