Five months ago, David Nwaba was attending a D-League tryout for the local Los Angeles D-Fenders. Six years before that, he was another kid attending high school in L.A.
Now, for at least nine more days, he is a Laker.
Nwaba — who is currently on a 10-day contract — made his debut for his hometown NBA team in Tuesday’s loss to Charlotte, playing only five minutes, though at an important time late in the game.
The 24-year-old — who was called up from the D-Fenders primarily because of his renowned defense — held his own, even when matched up against All-Star Kemba Walker, who wound up dropping 30 points on the night.
“It was a good experience,” Nwaba said. “I took the challenge. I wasn’t afraid of the challenge. I’m just trying to showcase my skills on the defensive end. I think I did an OK job about it.”
Head coach Luke Walton agreed with that assessment, having spent the whole day applauding Nwaba’s defense at the D-League level.
Before the game, Walton recalled D-Fenders coach Coby Karl telling him about a game this year in which the team was down by 18 before deciding to go to a smaller lineup.
Despite having to guard the opposing team’s center, the 6-foot-4 Nwaba came up with four or five consecutive stops, and the D-Fenders went on to win.
Though his NBA debut wasn’t as dramatic, Nwaba pleased Walton with his defense and how he and his fellow reserves managed to preserve the Lakers’ lead with about five minutes left.
“I thought he was really good,” Walton said. “The only time they scored on him was actually (when) our big man messed up the rotation. (Nwaba) did a great job of putting ball pressure and then switching onto the low side. Our big guy was late on the switch.
“As far as us seeing what we wanted to see, it was good. We put him on Kemba Walker in the fourth quarter of the game. … He did not seem to be timid out there.”
Walton also spoke with Nwaba before the game, which caused him to recall his own NBA debut back when he was excited to play with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal back in 2003.
“I told him (to) really enjoy it, embrace it, but once we start playing put that all out of your mind,” Walton said. “It’s just about playing basketball, competing, doing what you do well and what got you here.”
Getting to this point has been both a short and long journey for Nwaba, who attended University High in West L.A. — just 12 miles away from Staples Center — but went through three different colleges and the D-League before getting his NBA shot.
And having gotten so used to playing games for the D-Fenders at the Lakers’ practice facility, suddenly performing in front of a sold-out crowd of 18,997 for his childhood team admittedly brought out some jitters.
“At the D-Fenders we have four rows (of fans),” Nwaba said. “To see this at Staples Center, looking up at all of the fans — it was nerve-wracking, but I got through it.”