We know more about the five that should start the Lakers season. This night against the Kings, Darvin Ham has, as imagined, sent his “Big Three”, LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook, along with Kendrick Nunn and Damian Jones.
The latter was in competition with Thomas Bryant, or even Anthony Davis in the event of a shift in the position. A Lakers player during his rookie season (2017/18), the player with an illustrious surname in California has been busy in the infirmary in recent seasons. But in Washington, where he spent his last four years, he nevertheless posed as an almost indisputable starting pivot, with 108 starts in 155 games played.
Despite a much more chaotic journey, Damian Jones nevertheless gave him priority, possibly because of his big end to last season with the Kings (17 points and 7 rebounds on average over the last ten games) and especially a defensive profile much more pronounced and intimidating below the circle.
” He’s a very athletic inside that can really attack the circle and protect it too. I have a feeling that he can score under, like me », recently told Thomas Bryant of his teammate, also mentioning his own ability to punish from afar. With a low volume of 1.5 attempts per game, the pivot still displays 35% career success.
Too bad if that has not convinced, so far, Darvin Ham to establish him. ” For me, in this team, it’s not about being a starter. It’s about knowing what the team needs from me. What I can bring ? How can I help this team to perform as well as possible, that is, to win? That’s all we care about, winning. So it doesn’t matter if I start or if I come off the bench, we want to win “posted the former Wizard.
Tonight, neither really convinced statistically. Holder, Damian Jones has compiled only one point (0/3 on shots), 4 rebounds and 2 blocks, while his replacement brought 5 points (1/3) and 4 rebounds.
” All options are possible, so we’ll see what happens. But we’re all in competition for our minutes. Everything will be in order. I feel like we can complement each other. But whatever happens, whatever the coach decides, it will be fine “, promised Damian Jones.
