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Taylor Geas

Since 1987, one of the two voices you’d hear in the background of a Lakers game is that of Color Analyst Stu Lantz. But on February 14, 2024, you heard a different voice; you heard Allie Clifton’s voice.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Lakers broadcast booth is legendary. The seats are coveted. Francis Gayle “Chick” Hearn’s reign as the Lakers play-by-play announcer set a standard for anyone who was going to enter the space and pick up that headset. Bill Macdonald, Chick’s successor, knows that only experts are called upon to sit in those seats and help provide the “words eye view” that Chick had once given to Lakers fans. And so, on that second Wednesday in February when Stu, the 37-year vet was out for a few games due to a routine medical procedure, the decision for his replacement was not taken lightly.&nbsp;&nbsp;

That night, the Lakers beat the Utah Jazz 138-122. Clifton, a Spectrum SportsNet studio host, called the game alongside Macdonald, and became the first woman to call a Lakers game.&nbsp;&nbsp;

But this story isn’t about congratulating a woman for being the first to call a Lakers game. This is about examining how prepared this person was to do her job. 

Clifton started in sports as a college basketball player at the University of Toledo. So much of her family worked in education, her dad retired as an administrator after forty years, that Clifton was studying at UT to become a math and science teacher for grades 4-9. But one day before the final semester of her senior year, when a calculus four exam kept her for two hours to solve one problem, she had a change of heart.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“When my career was coming to an end as a player, I was like ‘I need something to keep me in sports,’” she said.&nbsp;

That summer she was struck by broadcast journalism. And her plan to break into the field was this: throw herself into it entirely.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Clifton went back to UT to earn her master's in liberal studies, she worked in the weight room as a grad assistant to get her school paid for. At night, she worked for BCSN, a small sports station that would air all the high school and college sports on their network. She primarily covered high school girls' and boys' basketball, and college basketball. Her first sideline gig was the UT college football spring game. And in the summers, Clifton covered baseball as a sideline reporter for the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens.&nbsp;

She did so many things during those two years, “I was actually a reporter for Channel 13 ABC News and covered a double homicide murder,” Clifton commented.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Her first two games as a color analyst were two high school girls' basketball games for BCSN. Afterwards, she met up with her friends and told them, “I’m not going to make it in this career. This is hard. There’s no way, I’m not good at this.”&nbsp;

She didn’t think she could do it.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“But then I put my heels in the mud and just continued to dig and work at it,” Clifton said. “Two years later, it was then that I got my opportunity with the Cavs.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

In 2012, Clifton landed at Fox Sports Ohio as a sideline reporter for the Cleveland Cavaliers.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“My first year to my second I had taken a big leap and jump, a lot of it was just being confident, understanding that I could do this, and getting over my own mental hurdles,” she explained. And right on time, as Clifton found her center in this new space, LeBron James returned to Cleveland.&nbsp;&nbsp;

That July, the world waited for LeBron to announce his plans during free agency. Clifton stayed ready anticipating his return to Cleveland, but then a few days had passed so she figured it was safe to head south to a friend’s lake house. She had driven a few hours and stepped onto a pontoon boat that began making its way to the middle of the lake when she got the call. She was needed back in Cleveland immediately. The pontoon turned around and headed back to shore and Clifton headed back north for three hours until she was standing on the lawn in front of the arena capturing the fan reactions around her.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“It was that day that I was like ‘Oh this is different,’” She explained.  

LeBron led the Cavs to their first NBA Championship in 2016. That following January, Cavs small forward, Richard Jefferson, approached Clifton at practice and asked if she’d consider hosting a podcast he was planning to launch with his teammate Channing Frye. “Absolutely not,” Clifton replied. She normally likes staying under the radar but will then remind herself that she must step outside of her comfort zone, and when she does, really special things happen.&nbsp;&nbsp;

A nudge from her inner self and the encouragement from Jefferson convinced Clifton to give the podcast a try. Now more than seven years later, “Road Trippin” is one of the most popular athlete-driven podcasts. And for a long time, it was the only athlete-driven podcast hosted by active players. It completely disrupted the industry.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“That opportunity that Rich afforded me, and that they both had been so gracious with me on over the years, changed the trajectory of my career. …I take nothing about that lightly. …it’s something very, very special,” Clifton said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Then in 2018, after their first year of “Road Trippin”, when LeBron left for the Lakers, Clifton landed in Los Angeles too, as Spectrum SportsNet’s studio host. She’s been in basketball for over a decade, covering, analyzing, and calling games— once for the Cavs, frequently in the WNBA for the Los Angeles Sparks, and now for the 17x champs.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“I know that I’ve put in some work,” Clifton said. “I still have so much to do obviously, and I’m willing and ready for that, I just think the moment, it met me at the right time. I was just so hopeful that I could rise to the occasion. And I think I did that.”&nbsp;

When she received the call that second Monday in February about her upcoming assignment two days later, Allie had confidence from her prior work experiences, and she also found poise in her preparation. From the call on Monday morning to the game on Wednesday night, she didn’t stop thinking about the job she had to do. Her prep was a bit different than normal; she studied boards covered with numbers and personnel for both teams. She had to absorb information to be used at a moment’s notice. She had to be ready to push herself to step outside of her comfort zone—live, in front of hundreds of thousands of viewers.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“My biggest thing is sometimes I don’t talk as much. Because I’m still, especially in that space, trying to find my voice.”&nbsp;

But Clifton had learned already how what you demand from yourself in moments of apprehension is what’s going separate you from who you’ve been and who you’re about to become. What you decide to do in that moment will either nourish the trepidation or suffocate it.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“That was my thing too,” Allie said, “Just knowing myself, I was like ‘you have to talk, Allie.’ And it’s a lot of talking. …I was just hoping that I could meet the moment and fill my role, which meant I had to use my voice.”&nbsp;

Clifton explained how she’s listened to “Stu and Billy Mac” every single game since she arrived in 2018, she knows their style. That night, she wanted the lineup change to feel seamless, “I just wanted to follow his lead,” she said. “But the biggest thing with him is, it’s not about him. From the second he found out I was doing it, he said ‘Talk as much as you want. This is your opportunity. It made me feel so comfortable.’&nbsp;

And the whole time she was in the booth, she didn’t think about the specialness of the moment, her phone was on do not disturb, she didn’t check in on social media, she didn’t think about anything but doing her job. Because Clifton said, “Whether I did good or not, I still needed to put my head down and grind.”&nbsp;

But her grind was met with applause from around the league, including a tweet from her friend and fellow Ohio native, LeBron. In between a slew of clapping and fire emojis, James said how “super happy” and “proud” he was of her. And she expressed her gratitude for him in return.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Clifton explained how Bron’s second stint in Cleveland, set an example for her: “...He showed me a different side of a grind. Whether it was him in his space of the game, to me and my craft, if you put in the time, if you put in the work, it will pay off.&nbsp;

When he put out that tweet for me after I did the Lakers game, it was more than just a tweet. You think back to all this time covering him, and sometimes what I need to do a better job at is probably saying thank you to him a little bit more often because I wouldn’t be in the position I’m in in a lot of ways if it wasn’t for him and what he showed me in terms of that grind and that preparation and what it takes to be good at something you’re passionate about.”&nbsp;

Included in the outpouring of love from her friends and colleagues, Allie also got messages from moms and dads who had been showing their kids that this happened; that a woman was in the booth calling the game.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

“That’s what it’s about, to know that we can, that you belong, and that it’s possible because I had that growing up. ...and without that, who are we, what are we doing?”&nbsp;

By preparing, pushing past your fear, by putting your focus on your work, you show yourself that you belong, and you show everyone else that they belong too. 

Clifton is a complete professional. Her composure is almost disarming. And she’ll talk to you the same way she talks to a professional basketball player, it’s always relatable, inquisitive, smart, conversational.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Clifton said she’s always modeled her approach to that of Hall of Fame NBA Broadcaster, Doris Burke.&nbsp;&nbsp;

She explained how Burke “comes prepared. She knows what she’s talking about. Her delivery. Her cadence. Her intellect. She’s the total package. To be able to have that and be able to give it, that’s the other thing she does so well, she takes the time.”&nbsp;

Burke has been a basketball analyst and commentator for over 25 years. She’s been with ESPN, ABC, and CBS and started in men and women’s college basketball, moved on to the WNBA covering the New York Liberty before landing in the NBA. Burke’s career has been riddled with firsts: She was the first woman to call Knicks radio and television broadcast, the first woman to call a BIG EAST men’s basketball game on TV. She was the first woman to be a fulltime national NBA analyst, and she was the first woman to serve as an analyst for the NBA Finals.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The work that Burke puts in is evident to Clifton who explained that she admires and tries to emulate her work ethic, drive, and ability to strike&nbsp;the&nbsp;balance between no nonsense and entertaining—a balancing act Burke does so well.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“I’m so proud of her,” Doris said of Clifton’s accomplishment. “And what I’d tell Allie and all women of her generation is I so admire their approach to things. Their professionalism and their work habits because they wouldn’t be there without that. But more importantly, they seem to have this innate confidence that I never possessed, and what that does is inspire me.&nbsp;

Like people say, ‘I look up to you,’ and that’s very nice to hear but I didn’t enter the business for that reason, I just love basketball. But when you meet nice people like Allie who want so badly to be great at what she does, and then to see her go out and execute it, it’s joyful for me. I’m close to the end of my career and knowing that the next generation is going to take us to places we haven’t been, is just the best.”&nbsp;

Chasing a dream is tricky because there’s a million little stops along the way and at every stop, you’re someone different. It’s a constant state of transformation. Sometimes the next stop is scary and you second guess yourself, and even there on your journey, you have someone looking to you from the place you once were.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“It’s so emotional to hear that someone I’ve looked up to and I’ve idolized, and I’ve strived to be, has those words to say about me,” Clifton said, “because she showed me that I can be confident, and I do belong.”

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When Women Call the Shots

Mike Trudell

Two of the all-time greats put on a show for the basketball public on Saturday night in San Francisco, and it was LeBron James and the Lakers delivering the final blow in a heavyweight fight against Steph Curry and his Golden State Warriors, as LeBron’s two free throws with 1.2 seconds left in double overtime proved the final difference in a 145-144 battle.

Amidst a 21st NBA season of entirely unprecedented production, continuing a career explained in part by being voted to start a record 20th All-Star game, LeBron grabbed a career-high 20 rebounds with 36 points and 12 assists to secure the first 30+ point triple-double for the Lakers since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1976.

He needed all of that, because Curry went off for 46 points, on 17 of 35 FG’s, including 9 of 21 3’s, plus seven assists. Then he embraced LeBron postgame, only to, understandably, tear his jersey in frustration at the loss as he walked off the court.

“Just a treat to go against one of the greatest to ever play this game,” said LeBron shortly after the final buzzer. “For us to continue to push each other at this stage of our careers, you don’t take that for granted because you don’t know how many times you’re actually going to get the moment to actually be on the same floor with such a talent. So it’s been a treat so far in my career.”

Opposite LeBron, Curry was hitting what felt like one dagger after another. With L.A. leading 117-114 at the end of the fourth quarter, Curry converted a tough layup to get GSW within one with 15.8 second left. Then he tied the game with 5.9 seconds left after Anthony Davis – who had 29 points, 13 boards and four blocks despite suffering a hip spasm – split a pair of free throws.

LeBron scored six of L.A.’s first eight points in the first OT, only to watch the 35-year-old Curry drill a three to get his team within one with 53.4 seconds left; then Steph served as a decoy to set up a Klay Thompson three that forced double OT.

Curry and James exchanged blows yet again in that period, with the NBA’s all-time leading 3-point shooter hitting his eighth three to make it 141-139, less than a minute after L.A. had gone up by four behind LeBron and D’Angelo Russell’s offense.

It was Russell who countered with his fifth 3-pointer – all coming after halftime – to put L.A. back on top with 53.1 seconds left. And yet, after Austin Reaves split a pair of FT’s, Curry got free for his ninth triple, putting the Warriors up 144-143 with 5.9 seconds left as the players and fans alike stood dumbfounded.

On the ensuing Lakers possession, LeBron finished the job. He gathered the ball atop the three-point line, and quickly burst past rookie Brandon Podziemski, and then Jonathan Kuminga, before drawing a foul on Draymond Green at the rim with 1.2 seconds left. The King stepped up and swished both free throws, ignoring the 48 minutes on his 39-year-old legs, then watched as Curry missed a full-court heave at the buzzer.

Indeed, this was the first time in NBA history that opposing players over 35 scored at least 35 apiece.

“It’s something I’ll be able to talk about with my grandkids,” said LeBron. “When you talk about me being able to compete vs. one of the greatest players to ever play the game … for us to continue to push each other at the state of our careers, you don’t take it for granted.”

“I can’t imagine a scenario where a game like tonight happens, (LeBron) in season 21 and me in Year 15,” said Curry. “You look forward to the battles, but you also appreciate the mutual respect of what it takes to keep doing what you’re doing at this level. Only a few people know how hard it is. I’m happy to be in that group.”

Before the game, Warriors coach Steve Kerr was asked about LeBron and Steph, and the years of battles that culminated in the four consecutive NBA Finals showdowns from from 2015-18.

“Really incredible,” he reflected. “What I see is LeBron has always been one of the great physical specimens, not only in the league but on the planet, but he developed his skill in the second half of his career. Steph was the opposite, he was one of the most skilled guys right away, and he developed his body. So what I love about the two guys is they each were already great players, but they identified where they could get better and put in the work, and the work is year round.

“You can see it, how prepared they are for every season. They're two of the all-time greats because of that, not just the skill or the athleticism, but the awareness of what they need to do to keep getting better, and keep getting better, over, and over, and over again. It’s incredibly inspiring.”&nbsp;

After being informed of Kerr’s comments, LeBron was reflective.

“Yeah, in order to be great in this league for a long period of time, be sustainable and have longevity in this league, you have to be able to have a growth mindset, you have to be able to adapt to the game and be able to put the work in in order for you to sustain a level of excellence,” he said. “I think Steve is correct in a lot of the things that he said for the simple fact that over the years, Steph has put the work into his body. Because you gotta play so many games, he’s played in the Finals for years and years and years, so, to be able to take that type of physical play out there on the floor when guys are trying to rough him up and things of that nature, he’s put a lot of muscle into it, he obviously came in with the skill.

“For me, it’s just always about, I understand that my body is my temple in order for me to be great, and I’ve always wanted to be one of the greatest to ever play this game, and the only way to do that is to be available for your team. So just working on my game and putting the work in and being able to trust it on the floor.”

The Lakers, now 24-23 with five games left on their Grammy Road Trip, and Warriors, 19-24, play three more times this season: Feb. 22; March 16; and April 9.

We can hope for another classic duel between a pair of legends, but boy, have they already given us more than enough to savor into NBA eternity.

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LeBron vs. Steph: Defining Greatness

Now in his second season with the Lakers, assistant coach Chris Jent first worked with Darvin Ham as a fellow assistant in Atlanta, prior to joining Ham’s staff in Los Angeles to start the 2022-23 season. Jent, who’s been coaching in the NBA since 2003, also had a wide-ranging career as a player that found him on the court 13 different teams, in five different countries.

Jent joined us at the team hotel during a recent Lakers road trip to detail his basketball journey:

MT: When did you fall in love with basketball?Jent: Growing up in a small town, you played multiple sports, so it was when I was 13, the summer before 8th grade. I was drawn to hoops, but also loved football and baseball. That summer sparked the serious passion for the game.

MT: You grew up in Sparta, in the northern part of New Jersey. You’re 6’6’’, but were you a tall kid? Early or late growth spurt?Jent: I was always tall. Had tall parents, and I was always the tallest kid. I grew four to six inches every year until I was a sophomore in high school. I played a lot of pickup basketball at the part, and usually with adults. I’d usually play point guard, but I was also a rebounder, so I’d rebound and push the ball and play on the perimeter.

MT: When did you get into the AAU circuit?Jent: That started my freshman year of high school; I went to play for the best AAU team in New Jersey, the Road Runners. Kyrie Irving, and a lot of guys who played in the league played for the Road Runners. There was also travel basketball, a lot of good basketball, but our town was not known for hoops at all … it was a football and wrestling town.

MT: What position did you play in football and baseball?Jent: I played running back as a youth, ended up as a receiver and linebacker, and returned kicks and punts as well. I stayed on the field the whole time. In baseball I pitched, and played center field. My dad was a big-time baseball player who was drafted a couple of times to play professionally before he threw his arm out. That was the first sport you learned in our household.

MT: In a four-kid household, all four of you played Division 1 sports?Jent: Yes, it was an athletic household. My oldest brother Eric played basketball at Colgate, the middle brother Tim was a quarterback at Lehigh University, and our younger sister, Megan, who is 13 years younger than me, played basketball at Robert Morris. I played at Ohio State. I was the youngest of three for a while before Megan, and that reflects my personality.

MT: So in short, you got pushed by the two older brothers, maybe pounded on you a little bit…Jent: Yes, my brother that’s a career Marine is three years older than me, yeah. He works for the government now. Infantry … he’s been out of service for eight years since his last tour in Iraq.

MT: I imagine it’s hard to complain about much to your brother that has served!Jent: Keeps things in perspective, for sure. That was my guy, the one that was always there to punch me in the arm, so to speak.

MT: When did you start to stand out as an athlete?Jent: I was the best athlete in our area and certainly in our town, in a lot of sports. It had a lot to do with that nurture from my brothers and dad. We just had a very competitive household. Everything changed for me the spring of my freshman year when I went to try out for the Road Runners. Got in the gym, and I was one of about 35 kids. And you either made the team, or you got cut. I was shooting around, and distinctly remember looking around the gym for my dad, and he was gone. It was like, ‘You gotta sink or swim, buddy.’  I remember that feeling of ‘I gotta be me,’ and I was a young kid, but I felt so comfortable in that gym, in that moment, with people that were more like me that could run, jump and move. I thought it was great. A whole other level. Then I started to spend a lot of time with the Hurley family in Jersey City in the offseason. I would live with them, travel with them, just to be around the sport.

MT: You’re of course referring to Bob Hurley, the legendary coach of St. Anthony in Jersey City*, and his sons Bobby (Duke University and six-year NBA player, current coach at Arizona State) and Dan (current coach at UCONN, the defending NCAA champions). Was it Bobby that you played with?Jent: Yeah, he was a year younger than me. He graduated high school in 1989, and I was ’88. Bobby was the point guard for that Road Runner team starting with his freshman year of high school when I was a sophomore.*Bob Hurley won four national championships and 26 state championships.

MT: Did you ever think about transferring to St. Anthony to play with Bobby under his dad?Jent: It was talked about, but I just had way too close ties with my buddies I was playing with. And we were very highly competitive in the state as well at Sparta, so it wasn’t like we were a bad team and I needed to go elsewhere.

MT: Did you have a moment where you first started to play against really good national competition and you realized what that level was, or was it already available just going into New York City or Philly?Jent: We spent a lot of time going into NYC across the bridge, playing against the Gauchos, and Riverside Church. In fact, I played with Riverside Church during my senior year, back when you could bring somebody in from out of state; that was when Kenny Anderson and Malik Sealy were there. All you had to do was stay in that Tri-State Area, including Philly, where we’d drive down to. And we’d also play in Newark, NJ, and played against the Newark Y, who had a really good squad.

MT: When did you start getting recruited, and where were you choosing between?Jent: It was Big East vs. ACC, and everyone was really surprised when I went to the Big 10. I was a top 25 kid in the country, all that good stuff, and everyone assumed I’d stay around, at Seton Hall, Syracuse or Pittsburgh. It was just something about the people at Ohio State, the recruiting class when I went onto campus and visited, I just jived more with the incoming freshman that were there. In hindsight, it might not have been the best basketball decision, but it was a great life decision as far as meeting great people, and that chemistry was evident from the start.

MT: Any other schools in the mix?Jent: I was originally going to go to Georgia Tech, but then Dennis Scott signed there. Back then, you recruited a two guard and a small forward. I was the two guard they were recruiting, but when Dennis signed … back then, you didn’t leave school early, so if you had someone in your position ahead of you, you just moved on and went to the next school. And then he left early, which was new to our game back then.

MT: In hindsight, you could have easily played together, but that’s not how it worked back then?Jent: Yeah, back then it was a different mindset. And they did try to sell me on that, where I’d be the small forward.

MT: What was your Ohio State experience like?Jent: It was great. We lost our head coach after my freshman year, Gary Williams went to Maryland, so there was a time where some of us were thinking about transferring, and I was certainly one of them. I was thinking about going back East to Seton Hall, Pitt or Wake Forest, who had a young kid coming in named Tim Duncan. That was a process that summer, but I decided to stay. And it was great. A very close-knit group, we really grew together, and had a heck of a team by the time we graduated.

MT: How here’s where we start to get …Jent: A little funky!

MT: For sure, and let’s just lay out the whole deal:1992-93: Rapid City Thrillers (CBA)1993-94: Columbus Horizon (CBA)1993: Joventut Badalana (Spain)1993-94: Houston Rockets (11 playoff games, and won a ring)1994-95: Rapid City Thrillers (CBA)1995: North Melbourne Giants (Australia)1995-96: Serapide Pozzuoli Napoli (Italy)1997: New York Knicks1997: Serapide Pozzuoli Napoli (Italy)1997: Atlantic City Seagulls (United States Basketball League)1997-1998: CFM Reggio Emilia (Italy)1998-1999: Termal Imola (Italy)1999-2000: Panionios (Greece)2000-2001: CFM Reggio Emilia (Italy)2001-2002: Pallancanestro Pavia (Italy)

MT: Before your worldwide hoops travels begin, and presuming that the dream was to be drafted in the NBA, how did you handle going undrafted?Jent: I was disappointed. There were some teams that were talking about drafting me. I did some draft workouts, and I thought they went well. I played a different style than the player that I was in college, where I was more of a blue collar, dive-on-the-floor, take-charges type. I could still score. I was still the second leading scorer on our team, but I didn’t show my offensive talents. I was hoping I could show that in the next chapter of my basketball career, and get that confidence back in my offensive game. But my mindset was, I’m going to give myself three years to make the NBA, and if it doesn’t work out, I’ll move on.

MT: Your first stop is with the Rapid City Thrillers of the CBA, in South Dakota.Jent: I asked to be traded from Rapid City, because I was just a token rookie, with all former NBA guys on the team. (The coach at the time) Eric Musselman did a fantastic job of keeping the rights of any guy that got a call up to the NBA, and I just wasn’t getting burn. I was like, ‘Muss, I need to play … can you trade me to Columbus?’ They didn’t have a very good team, but I could be marketable, because of the Ohio State connection. And they honored that. I ended up going there and being all rookie team in the CBA, and when I was on my way home to train for NBA camps, I got a call from Joventut in Spain, who had lost their American, Harold Pressley, that they needed a player. So by the time I got to Jersey, the next day I had a plane ticket to head to Spain for the playoffs. I was there for just the end of the year.

MT: So what was it like for a Jersey kid who’d only played in America to suddenly be in a high-level Spanish league?Jent: It was unbelievable. It was right into the playoffs – high intensity. We ended up losing to Arvidas Sabonis’ Real Madrid team in five games, and to see the intensity and passion at that level was really impressive. I was thinking, ‘I don’t care what anybody says about overseas, this is the real deal over here.’ They offered me a minimal, kind of nothing two-year deal, and I said ‘No, I’m not doing that.’ In hindsight, it probably would have been good to do it just to stay in that Euro League level. Because I didn’t realize how things worked. The difference between leagues in Europe … that was one of the most hostile environments I’d ever played in in my life.

MT: Did the head coach speak English?Jent: No, but the assistant coach was fluent in English, and he was my right-hand man. But it was hoops. That’s a thing I’ve always hung my hat on. I can get in any basketball environment, and I don’t need to speak the language, I can figure it out. Because of playing so much hoop, you can really survive, and I’ve always had that feel on the court.

MT: The universal language of basketball. So, you end up going right into another playoff series, but this time in the NBA, where you win a title with Houston in 1994. How did that come about?Jent: I was having an All-Star year in the CBA in Columbus, and I actually got a call up earlier in the year. Houston was trading Robert Horry and Matt Bullard to the Spurs for Sean Elliot. The Rockets called me and said I had a roster spot, and this was in the middle of the season. But Sean Elliot failed his physical, and the trade was off.

MT: Ouch!Jent: I go from fulfilling my NBA dream to going back to the CBA. Unbelievable. But (head coach) Rudy Tomjanovich was like, ‘Hey, CJ, if there is ever a chance for me to bring you back here, I don’t care if it’s for a 10-day, I’m going to do it.’ Sure enough, the last five days of the season, they found a way to do it. It wasn’t like today; you were either in uniform or you were out. If you were on injured reserve, you had to prove that you were hurt. So someone was on IR, and Rudy called me up, and I played great. Robert Horry, who I knew from high school and college, was like, ‘Yo, CJ, I’m going to say I’m hurt.’ We were playing Denver at home. And he was a little banged up, but he said, ‘I’m going to tell them my wrist hurts so you can start the second half.’ And I made like five threes, had 17, played well, and that was what catapulted me to being in uniform for the playoffs.

MT: OK hold on, I have to stop you there, as Robert is not only a Lakers champion, but an analyst for us on Spectrum SportsNet, and I need to ask him about this immediately. So …. He just volunteered?Jent: He probably wanted to sit his butt down too, because it was the last game of the season.

MT: Oh I see, so you’d already clinched the playoffs…Jent: We were already the No. 1 seed. It didn’t have stakes. Rob said he’d talk up the injury so I could get some opportunity. I was like, ‘My Man!’ I ended up fouling out. But … fantastic.

MT: So did you feel like you had some momentum towards getting an NBA contract?Jent: That’s what stunk … that offseason, I had the first surgery I’d ever had in my life. I was training at home and I tore my meniscus, doing a medicine ball workout on a wrestling mat. I was playing for a three-year contract in Utah, and I wanted to be in great shape. It hurt bad, but it wasn’t major. I probably should have just tried to play on it, tried to get through. But the next year, they moved the 3-point line in, and that really hurt me. I wasn’t as valuable then, trying to get more average shooters to hit threes, and more scoring overall. I was a 40-whatever percent 3-point shooter, but now more guys could shoot in the 40’s. So I made the team the following year, but got let go before the contract guarantee date.

MT: You had a couple of other NBA opportunities…Jent: First I went over to Australia and played for Brett Brown, then came back and made the Knicks that following season. I was going to go the Clippers, but Bill Fitch had a heart operation that summer. I had played really well in the L.A. Summer League in Long Beach, and they’d offered my a partial-guaranteed contract, but coach wasn’t around, and back then it was hard to communicate with people on the Clippers. So the Knicks came around and offered me a deal for more money, and I thought, ‘I’m an East Coast guy.’ But I knew I wasn’t going to play on a team that had John Starks and Allen Houston and those guys, and eventually, they couldn’t prove my injury to the NBA, so they had to let me go.

MT: What was your game like? I saw some highlight clips of your stint in Australia, but how would you describe it?Jent: I was a shooter. I lost a little bit of confidence in college, where there was a little bit of a ‘Don’t shoot!’ type thing, but that was always my game. I was a passer too. Athletically I was fine. Laterally it was hard for me, I was kind of a tweener, where at 6’6’’, was I a 2 guard because I was too small to be a 3? In the 1994 Finals, Charles Smith was the 3 for New York at 6’11’’. I preferred being posted up by someone bigger than having to guard a really quick, fast guard out on the perimeter.

MT: The next stint is very Europe heavy, mostly in Italy. How did you get through the process mentally of moving on from the NBA and focusing elsewhere?Jent: It’s definitely a mindset. The summer after 1996, when I’d made the Knicks and had a good season overseas, I came back and went to three different NBA camps. One was with New York when Jeff Van Gundy was the coach. They played up in Boston (in the summer). I remember that we were moving from a town house to a house in between double sessions of practice. We were supposed to have a morning practice and then drive up to Boston. Me and a friend moved my house with a rental truck, working until about 4 a.m., and when I got up to Boston the next day, I asked myself, ‘What am I doing? I don’t know if I can do this. Can I continue to give this type of energy to being a free agent and trying to make teams’? Then a couple of offers were coming through the door, and my wife had gone through some health issues overseas. I just decided to lean into being an overseas player. And if an NBA team gave me a contract, I’d do that, but I wasn’t going to keep going to the summer leagues.

MT: For the next five years or so, you’re mostly based in Italy, with a stint in Greece as well. What stands out as you reflect upon it?Jent: There are so many highlights, so many lowlights. We just really enjoyed Italy after a little while, and I had opportunities to go to other countries and leagues, but we decided to stay there. We loved the culture. We started really learning the language. Our favorite city was Reggio Emelia, it was gorgeous. You’re not by the water, but you can ride your bike everywhere, walk everywhere. It was a close community with beautiful food and great people. Imola was very similar, and we also loved Bologna.

MT: How was the competition in Italy?Jent: Very good. That was when Manu Ginobili was playing for Virtus Bologna, and they won the Euro Cup two years in a row. Dominique Wilkins played for a different team as well. There was another tier of teams, and we were right in the middle, finishing fifth or sixth. We always won games, and would qualify for a cup tournament. The one time I went back to Reggio to try and move the team up from the second division to the first division, but we lost in the final to Miles Simon’s team. Had we won that game, I’d have been able to stay there for a couple years, and that might have changed my willingness to stay for a longer stint. What’s tough is moving from team to team, especially with a child, and my son was born over there.

MT: Your experience in Australia was just the one season. How did that contrast?Jent: I had a great time playing for Brett Brown. The pay wasn’t as good. This league, they would bring a bruiser out to hurt you. You played at a little different intensity. There was a chance that you’d gotten into a bar fight against a couple of these guys a week ago. They’d come to Melbourne, and there would be a lot of scuffles. There was stuff going on between my teammates and the other team in town, and it was almost like playing high school basketball (against a crosstown rival). You played different, almost emotionally drunk.

MT: Any Ginobili stories from Italy?Jent: It was very distinct the first time I played against Manu Ginobili. Everyone knows how great he is now, and there are a lot of great players that nobody knows about. Antoine Rigaudeau was a great player, a French point guard who I played against him in Italy. He was so underrated, such a good player. A facilitator, but he could defend, and he ended up coming to the NBA too late. I played against Dejan Bodiroga in Greece, another fantastic guard. I think he was the winningest guard (of the former Yugoslavian countries) before Luka Doncic. Another one was Rasho Nesterović, he could really play.

But the most distinct memory was playing Ginobili that first time. You knew who he was. A teammate of mine had been his teammate in Sicily (at Viola Reggio Calabria), so I asked my teammate for some info. He said: ‘He’s super athletic, a one-foot leaper, but he can’t really shoot.’ I thought, OK, just keep him in front of you, go under everything. So the first three possessions, Ginobili shoots 28 footers, nothing but net. I look over at my teammate like, ‘What’s up bro?!’ He’s like, ‘He must have worked on his game!’ I was like, ‘Yeah, I think so.’ But when you played against Ginobili and the things he did over there, it was just clear that he was going to be so good.

MT: Was he Euro-stepping everywhere at the time, as one would assume?Jent: We all did. We worked on that a lot.

MT: No kidding? We give Ginobili a good chunk of the credit for really bringing that to the NBA…Jent: Oh yeah, you’d practice it a lot. It was footwork that we worked on a lot over there. We all had it, but he was just on a different stage to show it. And he’s a lefty.

MT: OK, so did you see the Euro step a lot when you first went over to Spain?Jent: No, it was later, more in Italy. That was a big element of the footwork, both the slide by, and the Euro step.

MT: Was there another player that you thought could have really made it in the NBA, but never did?Jent: A guy that I played with I thought would be a really good NBA player, was Gianluca Basile, an Italian player. He didn’t like the idea of learning a new language, he was a little fearful. And he got hurt in the Olympics when he was around 25, which did away with an opportunity to come over. We called him Toro. He was a bull. One of the only guys I’d ever played with where he had around 10 games where he didn’t miss. Eight for eight. Nine for nine. Six for six. It was low volume too. Jump shots, getting to the hoop. I thought he was a young Manu at the time. He just didn’t have the luck. 

Another guy was Theodoros Papaloukas, the kid that beat Team USA. He was like Basile, where he was a junior player to our senior team, but our veteran point guard got hurt, and he got called up. He was 18, and he was like a LaMelo Ball. He had that flair, the passing, the size. I would have liked to have seen him come over to the U.S. and play.

MT: When did you start thinking about making a transition to coaching?Jent: I always knew I’d stay around basketball. I got offered a number of different jobs when I initially retired in the sporting world like selling knee braces or ankle braces. I thought, ‘No, I gotta stay with the game.’ My first year after retiring I saw an ad in the newspaper as a head high school coach opportunity, and my wife was working at the time, applied for it and got the job at West Hill High School in Stamford, Connecticut. That summer, I was up at Five-Star basketball camp working, and then my college coach, Randy Ayers, called me when he got the head job for the Philadelphia 76ers, and said he wanted me to be his first hire. That’s when it all changed.

MT: And since then, you’ve worked for six different NBA teams, including with Darvin Ham in Atlanta, and now the Lakers. How did you shape your coaching philosophy throughout your experience as a player and a coach?Jent: The experience overseas as a player, playing for very critical-minded coaches in college and being the guy that you can yell at, and then playing for a guy like Rudy Tomjanovich, a Brett Brown, and coaching with someone like Mike Brown, you get all these different influences to build your basketball philosophy, mental and physical approaches, what you want the game to look like offensively and defensively, and then your work ethic. I feel like I’ve gotten the best of all these worlds, and I haven’t gotten a chance to display what I feel and know, but I’m glad it’s always growing. And I feel very fortunate I’ve been able to coach rising superstars, aging superstars, help people become a superstar, and see young teams get better and great teams go young, and older teams become successful.

MT: Finally, I know you spent some time working with LeBron on his shooting. What stands out about that experience?Jent: Yeah, I traveled all over the world with ‘Bron for three summers. I was the only player development coach back then for the team. I only worked with the rookies, but I had always taught shooting. LeBron got a little exploited in the (2007) series against San Antonio where they just made him shoot jumpers, and he got frustrated, and decided he was going to work on his jumper that summer. He was like, ‘CJ, I want you to be the guy to travel with me so we can work together.’ So from then on, wherever he went, from D.C. to China or wherever, I was there. The focus that first summer was re-teaching muscle memory on his shot. We grew within that. And I’ve also tried to be a scoring coach, my job being to help people learn how to score in the NBA, whether it be within the system or the individual strength. So we worked on a lot of stuff, but it started with the shooting piece.

MT: And I heard you’d often have shooting contests with LeBron, but also sometimes, Rich Paul?Jent: I shot a lot against Rich Paul. Rich can shoot. He made shots.

MT: LeBron’s work ethic is well known … what did you notice?Jent: The thing about him that I always tell young players is that, say you’re doing form shooting with LeBron James, and he’s working on something he knows he has to get better at. He has the mental capacity to shoot 450 form shots. Where some guys have the capacity to do 52. So his  ability to then grow quickly is there. He has the mental ability to stay on task, not be distracted, and stay locked in. I think that’s what separates him. His focus and his mental approach to things is unprecedented.

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Getting to Know: Chris Jent

While in Las Vegas, you’re more likely to take $100.00 out of your wallet, throw it down on a roulette table, and tell the dealer “black.” But then the tiny ivory Delrin ball lands on a red number, not a black number. The dealer picks your money up off the table, stashes it away, and you stand there stunned. Essentially you could’ve taken that $100.00, crumpled it up, and tossed it in the trash, both transactions would’ve taken around the same amount of time and ended with the same result—you’re worth $100.00 less.

That’s the Vegas effect. Here, people are compelled to act on instincts and follow their desires, not deny them, because “what ifs” hang in the air of every casino, they’re thicker than the cigar and cigarette smoke that swirl around them. In Vegas, everyone holds onto the idea of the possibility; they squeeze it so tight, and sometimes it slips through their hands like sand, sometimes it doesn't—that’s the beauty of it—possibility— everyone wants it, but not everyone can have it.

Before something happens, it exists only as a possibility; before it becomes real. And Possibility is the perfect word to describe the energy around the NBA’s first In-Season Tournament Championship in Las Vegas.

A little more than a&nbsp;month ago, making NBA history was a possibility for all 30 teams, a month later it was a possibility for only eight, and then before this past Saturday night, a possibility for two undefeated teams.

It became real at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas hours later when gold flecks of streamers adorned the vibrant red and blue court the Lakers team stood on.&nbsp;The Los Angeles Lakers will go down in basketball history as the first team to win the NBA’s In-Season tournament after defeating the Indiana Pacers, 123-109. Each Laker stood there grinning. There wasn’t a grimacing glare in sight, which was a change in tone from twenty minutes prior while the competition was still ensuing.

For 48 minutes, the arena was dimly lit, like in Los Angeles, but still different. Lakers Legend, Shaquille O’Neal sat courtside by the Purple and Gold’s bench. ESPN Analyst, Richard Jefferson sported&nbsp;a glossy black suit and matching bow tie similar to that of a blackjack dealer. Basketball icon, Julius Erving (Dr. J) watched alongside Mitch Richmond and NFL star Ahmad Rashad, along with members of the two-time champion Las Vegas Aces.

For a while, it seemed like the majority of fans in attendance were trending more towards LA. When asked by the in-arena host before tip, “Who’s got the Lakers?” The crowd erupted. And then with 3:42 to go in the third, a “let’s go Lakers” chant, reminiscent of the home arena, broke out as the guys led 82-73. But suddenly, with 10:30 to go in the final frame, the crowd roared off a Pacers’ steal followed by a two-pointer, shrinking the deficit to 92-89.

The entire game felt like watching a race where there was a sure frontrunner, but then again there was another runner staying closer right behind first place’s shoulder, a runner who could rip away on the final lap if they wanted.

The competition was intense and uncomfortable even though the young Pacer team only led by as much as three and Los Angeles was having their way with them in the paint. You never&nbsp;want to let the number one offense in the league hang in there for too long, especially after the Lakers didn’t hit a three until the third quarter. In both sports and Vegas, there’s no sure thing.

But maybe the closest thing to a sure thing was Anthony Davis's face with 6:35 to go in the game. The face he made is&nbsp;the stuff of what locker room speeches and hype videos are made of. He had just blocked a shot on the defensive end when Cam Reddish followed up with a dunk to put the Lakers up 102-96. The look plastered across his face in response was that of the look Leonidas had on day three of the Battle of Thermopylae. His brow furrowed, his nostrils flared, and his teeth were grinding. Even after the big fella had a season-high 41 points, 20 rebounds, and four blocks it was this look that instilled an&nbsp;alarming assurance in Lakers fans.

The emotional performance by Davis was part of a one-two punch that put the KO in the Knockout Round. Two nights before, it was LeBron who was throwing haymakers in the Lakers’ 133-89 win against the New Orleans Pelicans. In 23 minutes, James became the first player in NBA History with&nbsp;30 points, five rebounds, and five assists in under 23 minutes. The chronic record-breaker created his own category. And the duo’s performance in seven games garnered them spots on the 2023 All-Tournament Team. Davis led the tournament in rebounds with 102 and placed second for blocks with 20. And the oldest player in the league finished as MVP with an IST-high of +116 plus/minus, and 67 made field goals, more than any other player.

In the context of possibility, it’s impossible to figure out how LeBron is still playing like he’s 2013 LeBron, none of it makes any logical sense. And instead of dissecting the facts and numbers and habits, it feels like more and more people have simply resorted to asking LeBron himself: How are you still the basketball player you are?

“Because of my youngins over here, my rookies, my second-year guys,” he explained after being crowned IST MVP. “Some of them haven’t experienced playoff basketball, some of their paychecks are not as equipped as some of the older guys on this team, and then some of our fans during the December and January months, they kind of stall out a little bit, so I felt like it was my obligation and my responsibility to keep everybody engaged including my teammates, including our fans for our beautiful sport, so that’s why I was locked in from day one.”

In addition to going down in history, each member of the team will receive $500,000. Rookie Maxwell Lewis danced and sang from the sound of the buzzer into the locker room where Biggie Smalls blared. “I’m gonna lose my voice,” Lewis declared with a full smile. And LeBron joked about how as he immediately stepped off the court when the game wasn’t leaving their grasp, he was asked by one of the young guys, “when do we get our money?”

Austin Reaves, who was experiencing flu-like symptoms before the game but decided to tough it out and play, contributed a career-high 22 first-half points. When he sat down for the post-game, presser he let out a deep exhale and looked a little gray despite throwing up 28. “It means a lot to bring light to kids that had the same situation as I did growing up, being from a small town of 1,100 people, not a lot of people leave.” He said of his achievements so far in the NBA. “They graduate high school and might go to college and stay there, and basically just work their whole life there, find a job around the town that you live in. But just being able to show kids that it’s possible to chase your dreams. Regardless of what your dream is, don’t let anybody tell you that it’s not possible.” Austin also mentioned with a laugh how he’s probably going to take the money and join a lavish golf course around LA. It’s unclear if he was joking or not.

And while nobody is disappointed about the 500K, playing as dominantly as the Lakers did didn’t come down to the money.

“I don’t even think it’s about the money,” LeBron said. “I think it’s about us coming together and winning this thing. This is the inauguration of the In-Season Tournament, it’s something. Like records will be broken but one thing that will never be broken is being the first to do something. We’re the first champions of the In-Season Tournament and nobody can ever top that. And it’s great to be able to do it with such a historical franchise and it’s even better to do it with such a great, great cast of just funny,” Bron paused, and a big smile appeared on his face, “engaged, competitive men over here.”

After everyone left the court, they arrived in a room with blue goggles and champagne bottles. LeBron grabbed the goggles laid out for the team. As he lifted them over his head, he said, “They ain’t never done this before, I don’t know if these young boys know about this,” as he shook the champagne bottle, popped the cork, and sprayed his teammates in celebration.

This wasn’t Title 18; it wasn’t an NBA Championship. It was a closer look at who this team is, who they could be, and all the possibilities that lie ahead of them.

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What Happens in Vegas: How LeBron James, Anthony Davis & the Lakers Made Possibility Real 

Darius Soriano

The Lakers spent their preseason balancing their desire to grow their team chemistry after a summer of continuity-based team building, and the need to manage the minutes of multiple players -- including LeBron James (entering his 21st season) an Austin Reaves (coming off a summer commitment to Team USA) -- in order to be ready for what might be the most consequential season of the LeBron era in Los Angeles.

The result of this multifaceted approach was a 2-4 record in their six exhibition contests -- a record that accurately captures the team's approach to and valuing of wins and losses in those contests, but not the actual play on the floor when the majority of their core rotation players were both available and on the court together.

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Best of Lakers Preseason 2023

The lessons learned from those exhibition games, then, are two-fold.

First, the managing of minutes and differing availability of the team's core rotation revealed a depth of roster and variety of skill sets that project to serve the team well over the course of an 82-game campaign. This is true of all positions, but especially so when discussing the front court.

Yes, the team is built on the foundational presence of their superstar duo of LeBron and Anthony Davis, but ready to take on key roles and responsibilities next to and behind them are a multitude of forwards and big men who have a combination of size, motor, scoring craft, shooting ability, and athleticism that can both complement and supplement those stars.

Heading into the regular season, even with Jarred Vanderbilt's availability due a sore left heel in question, the Lakers still bring Rui Hachimura, Christian Wood, and Jaxson Hayes as viable options at power forward and center, to say nothing of Taurean Prince or even Cam Reddish who can play on the wing as complementary perimeter-based forwards who can help give the Lakers rangier, "small-ball" looks.

And while all of these players have shown where they can contribute within the structure of lineups with or without James and Davis on the floor, the play of Prince, Hachimura, and Hayes this preseason offers particular insight into how multifaceted the Lakers can be by forming any variety of looks next LeBron and AD.

Whether it was Prince's shooting and team defense from the wing, Rui's athleticism and offensive versatility from both forward spots, or Hayes' finishing ability and familiarly of his role within the team's schemes on both ends, they have all shown they can play in groups with one or both of Davis and LeBron on the floor to create medium, big, or even jumbo sized lineups that give Coach Ham a multitude of options.

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Laker Film Room: 5-Out Read & React - Prince & Hayes

And then, of course, the guard depth remains a main strength of the team.

Austin Reaves continued the preseason where he left off with Team USA, showing the growth and development in his game as a true all-court threat offensively. His shooting, both off the dribble and as a spot-up option, look regular season ready even though he only appeared in three of the team's six exhibition games. And with his already well-established feel for the game and ability to play off of the team's superstar duo as a cutter, screener, and passer, the potential for him to take another strong step forward this season looks more and more likely with every logged minute.

Next to Reaves is a rejuvenated D'Angelo Russell, whose offseason of preparation equated to a preseason  packed with high-level performances buoyed by elite shot making from all three levels, fantastic passing and playmaking for teammates, and an attention to detail and effort defensively that looks more as pronounced as at any other time of his career. This sort of defensive vigor within Russell's game has the potential to be an important floor raiser for the Lakers, allowing them even more versatility and a higher floor on that side of the ball.

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D'Angelo Russell: All about the effort

Behind Reaves and Russell, both Gabe Vincent and Max Christie also showed an ease of fit and adaptability within their roles to be trusted rotation contributors when called up.

Vincent's preseason was limited by back tightness, but when he did play, his shot making and steadiness as a ball handler and off-ball worker reminded of why he was a key rotation player in the Heat's run to the Finals last season. And with him being cleared for opening night, he should be ready to jump right back into the rotation as a key contributor.

As for Christie, he has already earned the trust of the team's veterans, with AD saying that Max can help "tremendously" this season, while adding that his toughness, defense, and ability to score shows that he's "putting it together" and that the team has the "ultimate confidence in him".

But beyond the depth, a second key takeaway from the preseason -- and of even more import to the big picture goals of the team -- is the play of James and Davis, who both look ready to play at a high level heading into this season.

James appeared in three exhibition contests and looked increasingly comfortable in each one, with his final game showing a level of burst and shot making that bodes well for both him and the team.

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LeBron James Preseason Game Highlights 10-19-23

Coming off a season in which he returned for the playoffs while still dealing with the aftereffects of the foot injury that cost him a month of game action at the end of February through most of March, James looks healthy and ready to continue to play at the unprecedented level that defies his 20 seasons and nearly sixty-six thousand combined regular season and playoff minutes.

Getting to this point, however, did take some time, which James recently acknowledged.

"It took a few months, but then when I was able to get back into my workouts, I was able to do some things I wasn't capable of doing throughout the whole playoffs, probably even before the playoffs," James said of his efforts to regain his form as part of his recovery this offseason. "My workouts started getting better, my wind started getting better, my quick-twitch started getting better. I didn't have to think about it as much. It's great to have that feeling, just have your motor back."

But, even with James looking ready to contribute at levels never seen for a player this deep in his career, it's the play of Davis which this season hinges on. And, if the preseason is any indication, Davis looks ready to meet the challenge of being the team's best player on a night-to-night basis.

We already know what AD can be defensively. One of the few players who can both protect the rim at an elite level while also switching out onto guards and big wings to make the lives of those perimeter talents more challenging, Davis is often a defense unto himself whose perpetual presence and need to account for is often the main component of the opposition's offensive game plan.

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AD's Block Party

On the other end of the floor, the shift to more five-out spacing offensively will put Davis in the middle of the frame, and allow him to be both a perimeter threat while still offering a litany of chances at the rim. Davis has already shown how comfortable and confident he is shooting the three-ball with more opportunities to play above the break with the ball in his hands (46.2% on threes in the preseason), while not taking away from his potency as a paint finisher via dives out of the pick-and-roll, direct post ups, or drives initiated from the top of the floor.

All of which is part of the plan. In clarifying comments made about wanting Davis to shoot upwards of six three-point attempts a game this season, Coach Ham said it's not as much about volume as it is Davis' mentality.

“I want him to be aggressive from all three levels,” Ham said in the days leading up to the Lakers' final exhibition game against the Suns. “I don’t want him to second guess a shot.”&nbsp;

And Davis, to his credit, has not been hesitating at all. Whether he's playing up high, in the corner, or dribbling into his jumper, the shots outside the paint are coming in a rhythm and flow of the offense that he and the team believe will translate to success.

Ultimately though, that success they seek must come, if at all, at the end of a process that is part of an ongoing work defined by a focus and togetherness that will need to be embraced by everyone within the organization. From the top down, there is a required alignment, not just in belief but in action. Every day, every game, every quarter, every minute.

A belief that has already begun with the work over the summer, through the preseason, and carried over in preparation for Tuesday's opener vs. the Nuggets.

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2023-24 Lakers Season Preview

The Lakers' season has been riddled with unknowns and inconsistencies, but the team found solace in an unexpected source.

It’s easy to doubt yourself. It’s hard to silence the voice that says that’s it, that’s the end of the road, give up.

Where’s the line?How can you tell if you’ve gone too far or if you haven’t gone far enough?How can you tell if you just don’t have what it takes?Better yet, how can you tell if you do?Austin Reaves is the most efficient shooting guard in the NBA right now.Two years ago, he entered the league and now he’s one of the best players on the Los Angeles Lakers at putting points in the basket. He’s great at drawing fouls, great at making free throws. And Austin has provided the third most win shares for the Purple and Gold this season.Like anyone who's gone after their dream, he’s toed the line between arriving or stopping short, but he never doubted himself.“Nah,” Austin said while walking back to the locker room after he and the Lakers defeated the Phoenix Suns on March 22nd, “I was always really confident in the way I play basketball. At the same time, this is the highest level, this is the highest level in all of basketball, you know? So it’s kind of surreal, but I have confidence in myself.”

The Lakers have a handful of games left to turn their season around. The team had gone almost a full month without LeBron James and a playoff spot is surrounded by uncertainty. In the midst of all this, an undrafted guard emerged.

But the undrafted rookie’s been shocking the Purple and Gold’s system since he got here in 2021. And this season in their March 19th game against the Orlando Magic, Austin and his career-high 35 points felt like a defibrillator to the heart of the Lakers ecosystem.

“He’s going to be a big factor in how we finish these last 10 games,” Head Coach Darvin Ham said of Reaves ahead of their contest against the Suns.

“For me, it’s truly the same mindset going into every game, and it’s win. Win at all costs, that’s all that matters,” the 24-year-old said after helping his team pull out a 122-111 win over Phoenix.

This game, Austin reached another career-high, with 11 assists, to go along with his 25 points and four rebounds.

Since the trade deadline, in terms of the usage-efficiency tradeoff, Austin’s usage is 18.1% and his true shooting is 70.4%.

“Basically, he’s getting a layup every time he goes down the floor,” Phil Chang, the Lakers Director of Basketball Analytics and Research, said.

Throughout many of the games he’s played in March, Austin’s drawn as many or more free throws than he’s had field goal attempts in terms of points per shot. In the month of March, he’s attempted 95 free throws, that’s more than DeMar DeRozan (68) and James Harden (52). And he’s made 83.2% of them.

“My thought process is I’ve shot a million free throws in my lifetime. It’s a relaxed state, I’m really confident in myself when I get to the line,” Reaves said.

Everything about Reaves is relaxed, in a really refreshing way. He knows where the line is...the proverbial line, the line between working hard and doing too much, stepping up and overstepping.

Austin’s here to play basketball and he won’t let anyone get it twisted. Walking into the arena before a game, most times he’s wearing a Lakers t-shirt and some sweats. When he gets up to the podium for the post-game press conference, he’ll answer his first couple of questions while staring down at the stat sheet from the night. He’s always straightforward, and unpretentious, he makes you think about that thing you loved before it became covered by all the obligations, by all the noise.

And it's not that he’s got a lightness to him, his presence actually feels very substantial. But he does have a light and it’s not one that dims or flickers.

Austin’s not scared of getting banged up. “Nah, I have an older brother that used to beat the shit out of me all the time so I’m kind of used to it,” he said after the game. No. 15 was posted up in his chair in front of his locker. He was wearing his signature, white Lakers t-shirt and some Lakers basketball shorts, he had ice on his left knee, and a big scratch down the inside of his left forearm.

His physicality offers another level to his game; Austin’s one of the most efficient drivers in the NBA. Guys before him on that list? Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, Steph Curry, Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard. A guy behind him? LeBron James.

“Ohhhh I got something against him now,” Austin said. “I always tell him I scored more points than him in college,” he cracked a smile.

While James famously didn’t play in college, Reaves comes from a family of NCAA players. Both of Austin’s parents played at Arkansas State, he attended Wichita State and transferred to the University of Oklahoma after two years. &nbsp;

Austin said his mom was a “hooper" and when asked if he sees any elements of her game in his he replied, “Ya, I mean a little bit of everything, she was probably a little bit meaner than I was. But she was really good, averaged 21 points in college I think.”

Driving to the hoop and eating the hard foul is all Austin’s ever known and he’s got no plans of stopping. His dad had always told him that “if you get to the free throw line and see a couple go in, then everything else opens up,’ Austin shared. “So, getting downhill, getting to the free throw line, or getting an easy layup is a good way to see it go through the net. Even if your jump shot feels a little off, it frees you up a little more.”

Austin contributes to the game in a way that’s rare in this league. It's smart, it’s deeper than general in-game stats. He intrinsically makes his team better.