NBA Summer League 2016: Jerami Grant dunks on Ivica Zubac

Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot showed signs of why he was such a steal in the draft at 24, scoring ten points on 80 percent shooting from the floor (4-5), including 67 percent from three-point range (2-3), as well as delivering excellent defense against his counterpart, Brandon Ingram, holding the second selection from the 2016 National Basketball Association draft to seven points on 25 percent shooting (3-12), including failing to hit from downtowon (0-3). And when the Los Angeles Lakers held the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 draft, Walton – who remained a Lakers fan even after his career with them ended – loved that they used it to select Russell, because, as Walton said, “I thought, in the West, you need a point guard”.

The game itself was also a grind, particularly in the first half when the Lakers shot just 7-of-30 while committing 13 turnovers.

The Lakers have been desperately looking for some sort of spark to bring back a competitive spirit and team – they may have started to see the signs of just that coming from D’Angelo Russell.

“There’s a reason”, Russell said, per Oram. “So, yeah, I’m thrilled to be working with [Russell]”.

Lakers forward Larry Nance Jr. knew the shot was good, even before Russell drained it.

“I was stepping out of my comfort zone, but that’s how you grow”.

But it was D’Angelo Russell who got the ultimate revenge when he led the team back from a 15-plus point deficit hitting huge shots down the stretch, none more clutch than his game winning three. “He’s got ice in his veins”. It’s a process, but these are the type of learning lessons that summer league is about. His biggest score was the three pointer to win the game at the buzzer. Then, against the 76ers, he literally put the game in his own hands by showing off his slick handles and cashing several jumpers out of pick-and-rolls. “They were giving me the shot so I started taking it and they were falling so I got into a little rhythm”.

Besides the rookies, it was a day for the sophomores to shine, especially Devin Booker, who is probably a bit overqualified for summer league games.

“I made it a point that I was going to come out and shoot jumpers and I did that”, Simmons said.