STARTING AT POWER FORWARD:
Signed by the Lakers on Monday, the combo forward is one of the most flammable scorers in the league, putting up the league’s 11th-most points per minute last season (0.25).
The 29-year-old can fill the bucket efficiently and in volume. He is coming off his third straight year of hitting more than half of his shots from the field, as he made 50.7 percent of his attempts — fourth among small forwards.
Beasley is at his best attacking the paint, using his powerful 6-foot-9, 235-pound frame to trample smaller defenders and his unique body control to finish at odd angles.
For most players, that latter zone is a spot of inefficiency: not close enough to the basket to score regularly and not far enough to be worth three points. But for Beasley, it is an area where he thrives.
Only Khris Middleton (51.0 percent), E’Twaun Moore (50.9) and Robin Lopez (49.1) shot better from there.
The Kansas State product is a master of hitting off-balance attempts, and doesn’t really get why others can’t find the same success.
“I don’t see why that spot’s such a hard shot, to be completely honest,” Beasley laughed. “Maybe I’m just weird.”
He is an excellent cutter, who ranked in the NBA’s 87th percentile on such shots by scoring 1.46 points per possession and shooting 72.3 percent (34-of-47) off cuts.
The former second-overall pick is also a weapon on post-ups (70th percentile; 0.94 ppp; 70-of-140) and in isolation (65th percentile; 0.92 ppp; 80-of-175).
Last season, he hit a sizzling 39.5 percent of his 3-point attempts for the Knicks. The only caveat was that he only averaged about one attempt per game (34-of-86 total).
But when Beasley did let the treys fly, they often fell through.
He was much better shooting 3’s from above the break (45.0 percent) than the corners (28.0), and was particularly effective in pick-and-pop situations.
A skilled roller, defenses would often prioritize protecting the paint from Beasley, who would instead slip out to sink a triple.
In 30 starts (out of 74 games), his averages ballooned to 16.0 points, 6.4 rebounds and 46.7 percent 3-point shooting.
He also scored 30-plus points in four games last season, including three in the starting lineup.
He’s been a much more aggressive rebounder (9.0 boards per 36 minutes last season) and has steadily improved his assists numbers (2.7 per 36) to the point where they may not be outstanding but are an improvement from where he started a decade ago.
However, the key to Beasley’s role will be how effective he can be on the defensive side of the ball. He has the physical tools to be an ideal defender at the forward spots, but his reputation is less than sterling. And the Lakers have prioritized this half of the game after leaping to 12th in the NBA in defensive efficiency last year.
Yet while he has also pinballed between five NBA teams and the Chinese League over the last six seasons, Beasley’s competitiveness is doubtless.
This is a man still upset about losing the 2014 NBA Finals, back when he was on a team with LeBron James, whom he considers like an “older brother.”
He’s also a man who once dubbed himself “a walking bucket” and put up the scoring numbers to back it up. Now he’s teammates with James once again, and committed to helping the team regardless of his own minutes.
How much the Lakers use Beasley is, obviously, up to coach Luke Walton. But he has the skill set and team-centric mentality to make an immediate impact when he does hit the floor.
STARTING AT SHOOTING GUARD: 3X NBA WORLD CHAMPION
SMALL FORWARD, BRANDON INGRAM
College History
Consensus ACC Freshman of the year in his lone collegiate season … AP All-American Honorable Mention … Consensus Second Team All-ACC selection … USBWA Freshman All-America and All-District III honors … NABC All-District 2 First Team recognition … ACC Rookie of the Week four times … Finalist for the Wayman Tisdale National Freshman of the Year Award … Wayman Tisdale National Freshman of the Week once (1/12/16) … One of five finalists for the Julius Erving small forward of the Year Award … Named to the 35-man midseason Naismith Trophy watchlist … Started 34 of his 36 games in 2015-16 … Finished ranked sixth in the ACC in scoring (17.3), seventh in three-point percentage (.410) and minutes played (34.6), ninth in three-pointers per game (2.2), 10th in blocks (1.4), and 13th in rebounds (6.8) … Led ACC freshman in scoring, rebounding, three-pointers per game, three-point percentage, minutes played, and double-doubles (eight) … Duke’s leading scorer in the NCAA Tournament, averaging 23.0 points to go along with 6.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists over three games, scoring at least 20 points in each contest … Played 119 of a possible 120 minutes in the NCAA Tournament … Led the Blue Devils in scoring nine times, in rebounding seven times, and in assists six times … Hit double-figures in 31 of 36 games, with 14 games of 20+ points … Blocked a career-high six shots 1/9/16 vs. Virginia Tech … Finished in the top-five in Duke’s freshman record books in a number of categories, including total points, points per game, double-figure scoring games, 20-point scoring games, field goals made, three-point field goals made, free throws made, total blocks, double-doubles, minutes played, and minutes per game.
High School History
PERSONAL:
Had a solo workout with the Lakers on June 18th, 2016 before being drafted by the team … Member of USA Basketball’s 2015 United States Junior National Select Team … Participated in the 2015 McDonald’s All-American Game and Nike Hoop Summit … Parade AllAmerican as a high school senior … Also named North Carolina Basketball Coaches Association All-District First Team … Played four years of high school basketball at Kinston, winning four straight 2A state championships, one of two players in history to win four consecutive North Carolina State Championships … MVP of the state championship game as a senior … Averaged 24.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 3.0 blocks, and 1.6 steals per game as a prep senior … Son of Donald and Joann Ingram … Has an older brother, Donovan (who goes by ‘Bo’), and an older sister, Brittany … Donovan played basketball at South Plains College (2008-10) and UT Arlington (2010-12) … Born in Kinston, NC … ex-NBA player Jerry Stackhouse mentored him growing up … Assisted Lakers staff in organizing food boxes at the L.A. Regional Food Bank in late August … Joined his family in hosting a school supply giveaway in his home town of Kinston, NC … Gave out more than 1,000 Adidas book bags full of supplies.
As a high school senior at Chino Hills High School in 2016, Ball was awarded multiple national high school player of the year honors, and led his team to an undefeated record, as well as a national championship. As a college freshman in 2016–17, he led the nation in assists and broke the UCLA record for the most assists in a season. He also won the Wayman Tisdale Award as the top freshman in the nation.
On June 22, 2017, Ball was selected with the second overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. He would be the third rookie the Lakers would draft at #2 in a row behind Brandon Ingram and D’Angelo Russell, the latter of whom was traded on draft night. On July 3, he signed a four-year rookie scale contract with the Lakers. During the 2017 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, Ball was named the league MVP after averaging 16.3 points, 9.3 assists, 7.7 rebounds, 2.5 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game. He had two triple-doubles, the first in Vegas since 2008 and the first ever in Vegas by a rookie. He had four games with 10 or more assists, becoming the first in league history to have more than 10 assists in more than one game; his 9.3 assist average was also a league record.
In his second game on October 20, 2017, he scored a career-high 29 points, to go along with 11 rebounds and 9 assists in a 132–130 win against the Phoenix Suns, falling one assist shy of becoming the youngest player to notch a triple double in NBA history.[49] In the following contest, he had eight points, eight rebounds, and 13 assists in a 119–112 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, becoming the youngest player in franchise history to get at least 10 assists in a game. On November 11, he recorded 19 points, 13 assists, and 12 rebounds in a 98–90 loss against the Milwaukee Bucks, becoming the youngest player at the time to achieve a triple-double at the age of 20 years and 15 days old, breaking LeBron James‘s record by five days. Leading up to the game, Bucks’ coach Jason Kidd, who Ball is often compared to, had called it “a stretch” to compare the two since it was too early in Ball’s career. Ball, who had been struggling with his shooting, made over 50% of his field goals in a game for the first time in his career. On November 19, he recorded his second triple-double with 11 points, 16 rebounds, and 11 assists in a 127–109 win over the Denver Nuggets. It was the most rebounds by an NBA rookie guard since Steve Francis had 17 in 1999–2000. He also joined fellow NBA rookie Ben Simmons, as well as Magic Johnson, Connie Hawkins, Art Williams, and Oscar Robertson as the only players to record multiple triple-doubles within the first 20 games of their NBA careers.
Ball missed the team’s Christmas game after spraining his left shoulder in the previous contest against the Portland Trail Blazers. His shooting had improved to 34.9 percent from the field and 29.7 percent on three-pointers after having made 44 percent of his field goals and 44.2 percent of his three-pointers in the seven games prior to the injury. He returned after missing six games, playing in five games before spraining the medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his left knee against the Dallas Mavericks on January 13, 2018. Originally, he was expected to be sidelined for one to three weeks. Ball was selected to play in the Rising Stars Challenge during NBA All-Star Weekend, but withdrew because of the injury. He returned after the All-Star break after missing 15 games. On February 23, he played 17 minutes and had nine points, seven rebounds and six assists in a 124–102 victory against the Mavericks. It was the first game he played all season that he did not start. Ball was also on a minutes restriction, and the Lakers held him out of their following contest to limit his back-to-back games during his return. On May 22, 2018, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.
JAVALE McGEE, STARTING CENTER, 2X NBA WORLD CHAMPION:
McGee was born in Flint, Michigan, and attended two high schools in Michigan, Detroit Country Day School and Providence Christian, before transferring to Hales Franciscan High School in Chicago.[1] According to Hales Franciscan coach Gary London, McGee’s natural position in college was ideally small forward, and he could play both forward spots. McGee was the starting center for the University of Nevada. After his sophomore campaign, in which he averaged 14.3 points and 7.3 rebounds, shooting 53% from the field and 33% from three-point range, McGee decided to hire an agent and declare for the 2008 NBA draft.[2]
On September 16, 2016, McGee signed with the Golden State Warriors. On December 15, 2016, he scored a season-high 17 points in a 103–90 win over the New York Knicks. On March 31, 2017, he had 13 points and a season-best five blocked shots in a 107–98 win over the Houston Rockets. The Warriors went on to win the 2017 NBA Championship after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 4–1 in the NBA Finals. He played in 77 of 82 regular season games, with a field goal percentage of .652, and 16 of 17 playoff games, with a percentage of .732, both the best in his career.
On August 1, 2017, McGee re-signed with the Warriors on a one-year contract. In June 2018, he won his second straight championship after the Warriors defeated the Cavaliers in a four-game sweep in the Finals. He started the final three games of the series, and averaged 8.0 points in the four games.
NBA POSTSEASON CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
•Appeared in 31 postseason games (three starts), averaging 6.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.39 blocks in 14.7 minutes.
•Has scored in double digits seven times and 20-plus points once in his postseason career.
•Has tallied two double-doubles (both in the 2012 First Round), including one 20/10 game.
•Shot 78.3 percent from the field (18-of-23 FG) in the 2017 First Round series against Portland, matching Dale Davis’ mark in 1998 (vs. Cleveland) for the second-highest field goal percentage in a four-game playoff series (trailing only Dwight Howard’s 84.4 percent in 2010 vs. Atlanta).
•Made his first career postseason start in Game 5 of the 2013 First Round on 4/30/13 vs. Golden State, tallying 10 points, eight rebounds and three blocks in 20 minutes.
•Tallied the lone 20/10 game of his postseason career in Game 5 of the 2012 First Round on 5/8/12 at the L.A. Lakers, finishing with a playoff career-high 21 points to go with 14 rebounds in a playoff career-high 33 minutes.
•Grabbed a playoff career-high 15 rebounds to go with 16 points, the first double-double of his postseason career, in Game 3 of the 2012 First Round on 5/4/12 vs. the L.A. Lakers… Handed out a playoff career-high two assists in that contest.
•Blocked a playoff career-high six shots in Game 2 of the 2012 First Round on 5/1/12 at the L.A. Lakers.
•Made his NBA playoff debut in Game 1 of the 2012 First Round on 4/29/12 at the L.A. Lakers, scoring two points and grabbing six rebounds in 17 minutes.
2016-17 HIGHLIGHTS WITH GOLDEN STATE:
•Appeared in 77 games (10 starts), averaging 6.1 points and 3.2 rebounds in 9.6 minutes while shooting a career-best 65.2 percent from the field… His 77 games were his most played in a single season since appearing in 79 games in 2012-13.
•In 10 starts, averaged 9.8 points and 5.2 rebounds in 16.4 minutes while shooting 69.2 percent from the field… Warriors finished with an 8-2 record in his starts.
•Among centers, ranked second in PER (25.3) behind only Karl-Anthony Towns.
•Scored in double figures 16 times, his most double-digit games in a single season since 2012-13 (33).
•Grabbed double digit rebounds twice.
•Scored in double digits in each of the last three games of the season, his longest double-digit scoring streak of the season.
•Shot a combined 82.1 percent from the field in the last five games of the season.
•Scored 13 points (all in the first half) on 3/31 at Houston to go with a season-high five blocks in 11 minutes.
•Tied a season-high with 10 rebounds to go with nine points in 12 minutes on 3/24 vs. Sacramento.
•Scored 10 points, his 11th double-digit scoring effort of the season, on 3/20 at Oklahoma City.
•Corralled a season-high 10 rebounds on 2/15 vs. Sacramento, recording a season-high +32 while he was on the court.
•Recorded a season-high 20 minutes on 2/11 at Oklahoma City, finishing with 16 points.
•Scored in double-digits in back-to-back games for the second time of the season (1/22-1/23).
•Scored a season-high 17 points on 12/15 vs. New York, his second consecutive game in double figures, hitting a season-high eight field goals (8-of-10 FG).
•Earned his first starting assignment of the season on 12/13 at New Orleans, tallying nine points and five rebounds in 16 minutes.
2017 POSTSEASON HIGHLIGHTS WITH GOLDEN STATE:
•Appeared in 16 games (one start), averaging 5.9 points and 3.0 rebounds in 9.3 minutes.
•Shot 73.2 percent from the field in the 2017 NBA Playoffs, the highest field goal percentage in a single postseason in franchise history (min. 10 field goal attempts).
•Scored in double figures four times.
•Made his NBA Finals debut in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on 6/1 vs. Cleveland, scoring four points in six minutes.
•Made his third career postseason start in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals on 5/20 at San Antonio, scoring a 2017 postseason-high 16 points (all in the first half) in 13 minutes… Set playoff career-highs for points in a quarter (11 in the first) and points in a half (16 in the first)… Marked his first playoff start since Game 6 of the 2013 First Round on 5/2/13 with Denver at Golden State.
•Recorded his third double-digit scoring effort of the 2017 postseason in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals on 5/8 at Utah, scoring 12 points in 11 minutes.
•Grabbed a 2017 postseason-high seven rebounds in 12 minutes in Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals on 5/6 at Utah.
•Shot 78.3 percent from the field (18-of-23 FG) in the First Round series against Portland, matching Dale Davis’ mark in 1998 (vs. Cleveland) for the second-highest field goal percentage in a four-game playoff series (trailing only Dwight Howard’s 84.4 percent in 2010 vs. Atlanta).
•Scored in double figures for the second-straight game in Game 3 of the First Round on 4/22 at Portland, recording 14 points in 16 minutes off the bench, his fifth career double-digit scoring effort in the postseason.
•Shot a perfect 7-of-7 from the field in Game 2 of the First Round on 4/19 vs. Portland, tying the franchise record for most field goals made without a miss in a playoff game (last: Chris Gatling, 4/28/92 at Seattle)… Finished the game with 15 points and four blocks in 13 minutes, becoming the first player in NBA history to tally at least 15 points and four blocks in fewer than 15 minutes in a playoff game, per the Elias Sports Bureau… Scored 13 points in eight minutes in the first half.
6TH MAN, MR. RAJON RONDO, 1X NBA WORLD CHAMPION:
Professional History:
Played in 72 games (72 starts) and averaged 11.9 ppg (.454 FG%, .365 3P%, .580 FT%), 6.0 rpg, a league-leading and team-high 11.7 apg (839 total assists were also a league high), 1.96 spg (7th in the NBA) and 35.2 mpg … scored in double figures in 45 games, 20+ in seven … grabbed 10+ rebounds in eight games … dished out 10+ assists in 51 games (Sacramento-era single-season record) and 20 assists in two … recorded 37 double-doubles and six triple-doubles (Sacramento-era single-season record) … led team in scoring in four games, rebounding in seven and assists in 67 … posted season-high 27 points vs. POR (4/5) in a triple-double effort with 10 rebounds and 12 assists … tied season-high 20 assists vs. CHA (1/25) to go along with 7 points and 10 rebounds … set season high of 20 assists to go along with 14 points, 8 rebounds, 4 steals and 1 block at CHA (11/23) … recorded 300th assist of the season at WAS (12/21), becoming the fastest in Kings franchise history (27 games) to dish out 300+ assists in a season, according to Elias Sports Bureau; also fastest since Steve Nash (25 games) did it in 2007 … missed one game (12/15) due to NBA suspension, one game (1/5) due to lower back spasm, one game (2/26) due to right thumb tendinitis, one game (3/16) due to right 1st MTP joint sprain; “turf toe,” right thumb sprain & right shoulder contusion and six games (3/28, 4/2, 4/7, 4/9, 4/11, 4/13) due to rest.
CAREER:
Played in 645 games (592 starts) with averages of 11.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 8.7 apg, 1.84 spg and 32.9 mpg in 10 seasons with three teams – BOS (2006-07 – 2014-15), DAL (2014-15) and SAC (2015-16) … holds career shooting marks of .468 from the field, .289 from three and .606 from the free throw line … in nine seasons with Boston, averaged 11.0 ppg (.473 FG%, .252 3P%, .614 FT%), 4.7 rpg, 8.5 apg, 1.88 spg and 32.9 mpg in 527 games (started 474) … in only season with Dallas, averaged 9.3 ppg (.436 FG%, .352 3P%, .452 FT%), 4.5 rpg, 6.5 apg, 1.17 spg and 28.7 mpg in 46 games (46 starts) … led the league in assists per game in 2011-12 (11.7 apg), 2012-13 (11.1 apg) and 2015-16 (11.7 ppg) … Celtics’ all-time leader in assists per game (8.5) and steals per game (1.9) … holds the Celtics’ single-season assist record with 794 (2009-10) and single-season assist average with 11.7 apg (2011-12).
2014-15 (BOSTON/DALLAS):
Played in 68 games (68 starts) and averaged 8.9 ppg (.426 FG%, .314 3P%, .397 FT%), 5.5 rpg, 7.7 apg (5th in the NBA), 1.34 spg (35th in the league) and 29.7 mpg … prior to being traded to Dallas, averaged 8.3 ppg (.405 FG%, .250 3P%, .333 FT%), 7.5 rpg, 10.8 apg, 1.68 spg and 31.8 mpg in starting all 22 games he played with the Celtics … recorded three triple-doubles and 15 double-doubles (six with Dallas) … had four games with 20+ points (three with Dallas) … had 29 games with 10+ points (20 with Dallas) … grabbed 10+ rebounds in seven games (one with Dallas) … dished 10+ assists 20 times (seven with Dallas) … scored season-high 29 points at BOS (1/2) … grabbed a season-high 13 rebounds in a triple-double effort (13 pts/11 ast) vs. WAS (12/7) … handed out season-high 19 assists to go with 12 rebounds at ATL (12/2) … missed the game at CHI (11/8) due to a left hand procedure, one game with left Achilles soreness at DEN (1/14), left the game at ORL (1/31) in the first quarter with a left orbital fracture/nasal fracture and did not return and missed six games due to the injury (2/2-2/11), was NWT-team suspension at ATL (2/25), left the game vs. GSW (4/4) in the second half with a hyperextended left knee and did not return, and was DND-Inactive (rest) at DEN (4/10). 2015 PLAYOFFS: Appeared in two games (two starts) for the Mavericks and averaged 9.5 points, 1.0 rebound, 3.0 assists and 18.5 minutes.
2013-14 (BOSTON):
Played in 30 games (30 starts) and posted 11.7 ppg (.403 FG%, .289 3P%, .627 FT%), 5.5 rpg, 9.8 apg, 1.33 spg and 33.3 mpg … led the Celtics in scoring four times, rebounds four times, assists 27 times, steals nine times, blocks once and minutes nine times … recorded one triple-double and 13 double-doubles … scored in double figures in 17 games, 20+ points in two games … made his season debut with 8 points, 4 assists and 2 steals vs. LAL (1/17) … recorded his 4,000th career assist vs. DAL (2/9) … recorded season-high 22 points to go with 11 assists and 3 steals vs. ATL (2/26) … had double-double with 11 points, 18 assists, 2 steals and no turnovers vs. DET (3/9) and passed Bill Russell for 5th-highest assist total in Celtic franchise history … missed a total of 42 games due to injury: 39 to rehab from a torn ACL, right knee (10/30-1/13), two games due to a bruised left shin (4/11-4/12) and one game due to a strained left hamstring (4/16).
2012-13 (BOSTON):
Played in 38 games (38 starts) and averaged 13.7 ppg (.484 FG%, .240 3P%, .645 FT%), 5.6 rpg, a league-high 11.1 apg, 1.79 spg and 37.4 mpg … named as a starter for the Eastern Conference in the 2013 NBA All-Star Game in Houston … scored season-high 30 points vs. CHI (1/18) … recorded first triple-double of the season (16 pts/season-high 13 reb/14 ast) along with 3 steals and 3 blocks at PHI (12/7) … tied John Stockton for the second-longest streak with 10+ assists in a game at ORL (11/25) by recording 16 against the Magic, which marked his 37th consecutive game with 10+ assists (also a career-long streak) … had streak snapped the next game when he was ejected just before halftime for an altercation … dished out season-high 20 assists vs. TOR (11/17) and vs. PHI (11/9) … suffered a torn ACL in right knee at Atlanta (1/25) and was ruled out for the remainder of the season on 1/27 (44 games).
2011-12 (BOSTON):
Played in 53 games (53 starts) and averaged 11.9 ppg (.448 FG%, .238 3P%, .597 FT%), 4.8 rpg, league-high 11.7 apg, 1.79 spg and 36.9 mpg … became the first Celtic to lead the NBA in assists per game since Bob Cousy during the 1959-60 season … named to the Eastern Conference All-Star Team as a replacement for Joe Johnson and had 2 points, 2 rebounds and 8 assists in 16 minutes in the All-Star Game … was named as a replacement for Stephen Curry for the Taco Bell Skills Challenge at All-Star weekend and finished in 2nd place … tied season-high 20 assists in triple-double effort (10 pts/10 reb/20 ast) vs. ATL (4/11) … recorded triple-double with 18 points, a career-high 17 rebounds and a season-high 20 assists vs. NYK (3/4), becoming the first player to hit such numbers since Wilt Chamberlain recorded 22 points, 25 rebounds, 21 assists on 2/2/68; Rondo and Magic Johnson are the only two players since 1983 to record 17+ points, rebounds and assists in a game … scored career-high 35 points vs. DET (2/15) … posted 15th career triple-double with 32 points (11-22 FG, 10-13 FT), 10 rebounds and 15 assists vs. CHI (2/12), becoming the first player in more than two decades to record a 30-15-10 triple-double with 10 FGM and 10 FTM in a non-OT game (joining Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon and Larry Bird as the only players to accomplish that feat since 1980 – with Olajuwon’s being the most recent in 1989) … appeared in his 400th career game vs. CHA (2/7) … recorded his 3,000th career assist vs. CHI (1/13) … passed K.C. Jones for 8th place on the Celtics all-time assist list on opening night when he recorded 13 assists to go with his 31 points, 5 rebounds and 5 steals at NYK (12/25) … missed four games due to injury. 2012 PLAYOFFS: Appeared in 19 games (19 starts) with averages of 17.3 ppg (career playoff high), 6.7 rpg, league postseason-high 11.9 apg and 2.37 spg in 42.6 mpg … notched four triple-doubles in the postseason … scored a playoff career-high 44 points to go with 8 rebounds, 10 assists and 3 steals in 53 minutes in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals at MIA (5/30), became the first player in NBA postseason history to record those totals in a game … became just the second player in NBA playoff history to record 13+ assists in the first five games of a series (joining Magic Johnson) when he did so in Games 1-5 vs. PHI … averaged 14.1 ppg, 7.4 rpg and 12.7 apg vs. PHI; only one other player has matched or bettered those totals for a seven-game series: Magic Johnson against BOS in 1984 NBA Finals: 18.0 ppg, 7.7 rpg and 13.6 apg.
2010-11 (BOSTON):
Played in 68 games (68 starts) and averaged 10.6 ppg (.475 FG%, .233 3P%, .568 FT%), 4.4 rpg, 11.2 apg (2nd in the NBA), 2.25 spg (2nd in the NBA) and 37.2 mpg … led the team in scoring four times, rebounds seven times, assists 65 times, steals 37 times, blocks once and minutes 30 times … posted a team-high 31 double-doubles … scored in double figures in 36 games, 20+ in five games … named to his second consecutive All-Star Game as a member of the Eastern Conference reserves … had second triple-double (12 pts/10 reb/23 ast) to go with a season-high 6 steals vs. SAS (1/5) … recorded first triple-double of the season (10 pts/10 reb/career-high 24 ast) vs. NYK (10/29) … set the NBA record for most assists through four games (67) previously held by John Stockton and Magic Johnson (65) … tallied season-high 26 points vs. ORL (2/6). 2011 PLAYOFFS: Played in nine games (nine starts) and averaged 14.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 9.6 apg, 1.11 spg and 38.3 mpg … notched sixth career postseason triple-double (15 pts/11 reb/20 ast) at NYK (4/22), joining Magic Johnson as the only other player in NBA history to record a postseason triple-double with 20+ assists … dislocated his left elbow during the third quarter of Game 3 vs. MIA (5/7) but did not miss any games due to the injury.
2009-10 (BOSTON):
Played in a career-high 81 games (81 starts) and averaged 13.7 ppg (.508 FG%, .213 3P%, .621 FT%), 4.4 rpg, 9.8 apg, a league-high 2.33 spg and 36.6 mpg … led the NBA in total steals (189) … recorded 10+ assists in 45 games … led the Celtics in assists in 80 games, in points 14 times, in rebounds 13 times and in steals in 56 games … had two triple doubles and a career-high 40 double-doubles … earned his first All-Star Game appearance when he was named as a reserve to the 2010 Eastern Conference team … became the first Celtic since Sherman Douglas to record five 15+ assist games in one calendar year since Douglas had five in 1993 … handed out a season-high 18 assists vs. SAC (3/26) … played his 300th career game vs. DET (3/15) … tallied season-high 30 points to go with 15 assists and 3 steals at GSW (12/28), becoming just the third Celtic to post 30 points and 15 assists in the same game (joining Larry Bird and Bob Cousy) … pulled down a season-high 13 boards at ORL (12/25) … recorded 11 points, 9 rebounds, 13 assists and 5 steals vs. MIL (12/8), becoming the first Celtic to post those numbers since the Elias Sports Bureau began tracking steals during the 1973-74 season … missed game vs. TOR (1/2) due to a strained left hamstring. 2010 PLAYOFFS: Played in 24 games (24 starts) and averaged 15.8 ppg (.463 FG%, .375 3P%, .596 FT%), 5.6 rpg, 9.3 apg, 1.92 spg and 40.6 mpg … had two triple-doubles … became just the third player in NBA postseason history to record a triple-double of 29 points, 18 rebounds and 13 assists vs. CLE in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals (Oscar Robertson, Wilt Chamberlain) … recorded 21 points, 12 assists and 5 steals in the deciding Game 6 vs. CLE (5/13), marking the fifth time a player recorded those numbers in a deciding game in which his team was the winner (Johnny Moore, Clyde Drexler, Michael Jordan, Jason Kidd) … moved into 6th place all-time in Celtics postseason history for assists.
2008-09 (BOSTON):
Played in 80 games (80 starts) and averaged 11.9 ppg (.505 FG%, .313 3P%, .642 FT%), 5.2 rpg, 8.2 apg, 1.86 spg and 33.0 mpg … among NBA leaders, ranked 6th in assists and 5th in steals … finished 5th in the NBA in total assists (659) … scored in double figures in 43 games, 20+ in 13 games and 30+ in two games … had 13 double-doubles and two triple-doubles … scored season-high 32 points on his 23rd birthday at PHX (2/22) … dished out a season-high 17 assists twice (12/3 vs. IND, 2/27 vs. IND). 2009 PLAYOFFS: Appeared in 14 games (14 starts) and averaged 16.9 ppg (.417 FG%, .250 3P%, .657 FT%), a playoff career-high 9.7 rpg, 9.8 apg, 2.50 spg and 41.2 mpg … joined Larry Bird as the only Celtics to have posted three triple-doubles in the same postseason.
2007-08 (BOSTON):
Played in 77 games (77 starts) and averaged 10.6 ppg (.492 FG%, .263 3P%, .611 FT%), 4.2 rpg, 5.1 apg, 1.68 spg and 29.9 mpg … among NBA leaders, ranked 13th in steals, 35th in FG% (.492) and 22nd in assists (5.1) … named to the T-Mobile Rookie-Sophomore Challenge and Youth Jam where he was a starter recording 6 points and 6 assists in 18 minutes of action … scored 20+ points in eight games … dished out 10+ assists in six games … led Celtics in assists 36 times, in rebounds five times and in scoring twice … became the first Celtic since Sherman Douglas in 1995 to record 15+ assists in a game when he dished out a season-high 16 assists vs. CHA (2/29) … tallied season-high 24 points vs. LAC (2/6) … grabbed season-high 12 boards vs. DAL (1/31) in double-double effort with 14 points. 2008 PLAYOFFS: Played in 26 games (26 starts) during the Celtics’ championship run … averaged 10.2 ppg (.407 FG%, .250 3P%, .691 FT%), 4.1 rpg, 6.6 apg, 1.73 spg and 32.0 mpg … had two double-doubles … recorded second-highest single playoff assist mark by a Celtic in postseason history (172) … recorded 16 assists in Game 2 of the Finals, the most recorded by a player since Magic Johnson had 20 assists in 1991 … had 21 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists and 6 steals in 32 minutes in Game 6 of the NBA Finals vs. LAL (6/17) … his 6 steals in Game 6 tied for 2nd all-time in steals recorded in a single game (with John Havlicek, Steve Mix and Maurice Cheeks).
2006-07 (BOSTON):
Played in 78 games (25 starts) and averaged 6.4 ppg (.418 FG%, .207 3P%, .647 FT%), 3.7 rpg, 3.8 apg, 1.64 spg and 23.5 mpg … had 14 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists and a then-career-high 7 steals at IND (4/7) … grabbed a season-high 14 boards at SAS (3/17) … had 12 points, 8 assists and 7 boards in a season-high 47 minutes vs. CHI (3/11) … dished out a season-high 11 assists at DET (2/6) … in first career start, tied season high of 23 points to go along with 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals vs. LAC (2/2) … recorded first career double-double with 10 points, 10 boards and 7 assists at WAS (1/20) … tallied season-high 23 points with 5 assists and 4 steals vs. TOR (1/12).
CAREER TRANSACTIONS:
Selected by Phoenix Suns in the first round (21st pick overall) of 2006 NBA Draft … draft rights traded by Suns with Brian Grant to Boston Celtics for a first-round pick in 2007 draft (6/28/06) … traded with Dwight Powell to Dallas in exchange for Brandan Wright, Jae Crowder, Jameer Nelson, a 2015 first round pick and a 2016 second round pick (12/18/14) … signed as a free agent with the Sacramento Kings (7/13/15) … signed as a free agent with the Chicago Bulls (7/7/16).
College History
COLLEGE CAREER:
2005-06: Led the SEC in assists (4.9) and ranked second in steals (2.0), while averaging 11.2 ppg and a team-high 6.1 rpg … scored in double figures in 17 games … grabbed 10+ rebounds in five games … tallied career-high 25 points (7-12 FG) and 7 assists vs. Louisville … recorded a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds vs. West Virginia … pulled down a career-high 19 rebounds vs. Iowa, the highest total ever by a Kentucky guard … dished out a career-high 12 assists with no turnovers vs. Ole Miss … recorded 11 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists vs. Connecticut in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. 2004-05: Named to the SEC All-Freshman Team … set Kentucky single-season record for steals with 87 … had at least 1 steal in each game … tied Kentucky’s single-game record with 8 steals in just 20 minutes vs. Mississippi State … scored in double figures in his first three NCAA Tourney games … handed out a season-high 8 assists with no turnovers at Vanderbilt.
Personal
Full name is Rajon Pierre Rondo … son of Amber Rondo … attended Louisville’s Eastern High School for three years before transferring to Virginia’s Oak Hill Academy for his senior year … favorite NBA player growing up was Isiah Thomas … enjoys shopping in his spare time … favorite actor is Will Smith.
MAGIC JOHNSON’S LOS ANGELES LAKERS
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles. The Lakers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA), as a member of the league’s Western Conference in the Pacific Division. The Lakers play their home games at Staples Center, an arena shared with the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers, the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women’s National Basketball Association, and the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League. The Lakers are one of the most successful teams in the history of the NBA, and have won 16 NBA championships (11 in Los Angeles), their most recent being in 2010.
The franchise began with the 1947 purchase of a disbanded team, the Detroit Gems of the National Basketball League (NBL). The new team began playing in Minneapolis, calling themselves the Minneapolis Lakers in honor of the state’s nickname, “Land of 10,000 Lakes”. Initially a member of the NBL, the Lakers won the 1948 NBL championship before joining the rival Basketball Association of America and winning five of the next six BAA and NBA championships in Minneapolis after the NBA formed in 1949. The team was propelled by centerGeorge Mikan, who is described by the NBA’s official website as the league’s “first superstar”.[12] After struggling financially in the late 1950s following Mikan’s retirement, they relocated to Los Angeles before the1960–61 season.
Led by Hall of FamersElgin Baylor and Jerry West, Los Angeles made the NBA Finals six times in the 1960s, but lost each series to the Boston Celtics, beginning their long and storied rivalry. In 1968, the Lakers acquired four-time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Wilt Chamberlain to play center, and after losing in the Finals in 1969 and 1970, they won their sixth NBA title—and first in Los Angeles—in 1972, led by new head coach Bill Sharman. After the retirement of West and Chamberlain, the team acquired another center, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who had won multiple MVP awards, but was unable to make the Finals in the late 1970s. The 1980s Lakers were nicknamed “Showtime” due to their Magic Johnson-led fast break-offense, and won five championships in a 9-year span, including their first ever Finals championship against the Celtics in 1985. This team featured Hall of Famers in Johnson, Abdul-Jabbar, and James Worthy, and a Hall of Fame coach, Pat Riley. After Abdul-Jabbar and Johnson’s retirement, the team struggled in the early 1990s before acquiring Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant in 1996. Led by O’Neal, Bryant, and another Hall of Fame coach, Phil Jackson, Los Angeles won three consecutive titles between 2000 to 2002, securing the franchise its second “three-peat“. After losing both the 2004 and 2008 NBA Finals, the Lakers won two more championships by defeating the Orlando Magic in 2009 and Boston in 2010.
The Lakers hold the record for NBA’s longest winning streak, 33 straight games, set during the 1971–72 season. 21 Hall of Famers have played for Los Angeles, while four have coached the team. Four Lakers—Abdul-Jabbar, Johnson, O’Neal, and Bryant—have won the NBA MVP Award for a total of eight awards.
Kentavious Tannell Caldwell-Pope (born February 18, 1993) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was one of the top high school basketball players in the class of 2011, and played college basketball for the Georgia Bulldogs for two years before declaring for the 2013 NBA draft. He was selected with the eighth overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons.
Detroit Pistons (2013–2017)
.jpg)
On June 27, 2013, Caldwell-Pope was selected with the eighth overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons. He later joined the Pistons for the 2013 NBA Summer League and signed his rookie scale contract with the team on July 19. On April 16, 2014, he scored a then career-high 30 points in a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
In July 2014, Caldwell-Pope re-joined the Pistons for the 2014 NBA Summer League, where he averaged 24.0 points and 7.4 rebounds in five games. Head coach Stan Van Gundy quickly assessed Caldwell-Pope as his best perimeter defender and he wound up leading the Pistons in minutes played with 2,587. Caldwell-Pope got better after the All-Star break, largely thanks to the acquisition of point guard Reggie Jackson; post All-Star Break, Caldwell-Pope averaged 14.3 points per game. He finished the season with 153 three-point shots made, 70 more than the closest Pistons player. He tied Kevin Love for 16th in the NBA.
On December 16, 2015, Caldwell-Pope scored a then career-high 31 points in a 119–116 win over the Boston Celtics. He helped the Pistons finish the 2015–16 regular season with a 44–38 record, which was good for the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. The Pistons thus qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2009. In the first round of the playoffs, the Pistons faced the first-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, and in a Game 1 loss on April 17, Caldwell-Pope scored a team-high 21 points. The Pistons went on to lose the series 4–0.
On November 9, 2016, Caldwell-Pope scored a then season-high 27 points in a 107–100 loss to the Phoenix Suns. On November 25, 2016, he recorded 16 points and a career-high 10 assists in a 108–97 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. On January 8, 2017, he hit a three-pointer with 9.4 seconds left in double overtime to lead the Pistons to a 125–124 win over the Portland Trail Blazers; he finished with 26 points. On February 1, 2017, he scored a career-high 38 points in a 118–98 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. He also made a career-high eight three-pointers on 11 attempts. On February 23, 2017, Caldwell-Pope scored 33 points, including three three-pointers late in the fourth quarter during a Detroit rally, as the Pistons defeated the Charlotte Hornets 114–108 in overtime. Caldwell-Pope’s three-pointer with 18.2 seconds to play tied the game at 100.
On July 7, 2017, the Pistons renounced the rights to Caldwell-Pope, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Los Angeles Lakers (2017–present)
On July 13, 2017, Caldwell-Pope signed a one-year, $18 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. He made his debut for the Lakers on October 22, 2017, scoring 20 points as a starter in a 119–112 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. On November 27, 2017, he scored a season-high 29 points against the Los Angeles Clippers. On December 13, 2017, Caldwell-Pope pleaded guilty to a probation violation he committed during the summer. He was handed a 25-day jail sentence, but under a work-release program, was allowed to leave the facility for home games and practices. However, he was not allowed to leave California, limiting him to only road games within the state during that period. On February 24, 2018, he scored a season-high 34 points and hit a career high-tying eight 3-pointers in a 113–108 win over the Sacramento Kings. On March 22, 2018, he hit eight 3-pointers and had 28 points in a 128–125 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans.
On July 6, 2018, Caldwell-Pope re-signed with the Lakers, on a reported one-year, $12 million contract.
Professional History
2014-15 (Charlotte):
• Appeared in 61 games (25 starts), averaging 8.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 25.8 minutes.
• Scored in double figures 22 times, including one game of 20+ points.
• Grabbed 10+ rebounds five times.
• Led team in scoring once, rebounding eight times, assists 18 times and steals 10 times.
• 12/3/14 vs. Chicago, scored a season-high 20 points.
• 11/11/14 at Portland, grabbed a career-high tying 14 rebounds.
• 1/31/15 at Denver, dished a career-high 13 assists.
2013-14 (Indiana):
• Appeared in 78 games (all starts), averaging 13.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 35.3 minutes.
• Finished second in voting for the Most Improved Player award.
• Recorded five triple-doubles, leading the NBA and setting a Pacers franchise single-season record.
• Led the team in both rebounding and assists.
• Led all NBA guards in rebounding.
• Scored in double figures 64 times, including 13 games with 20 points or more.
• Grabbed double-figure rebounds 22 times and handed out double-figure assists six times.
• Including triple-doubles, recorded 20 double-doubles.
• 11/11/13 vs. Memphis, recorded first career triple-double with 13 points, a career-high 12 assists and 11 rebounds.
• 11/22/13 at Boston, tallied 10 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.
• 12/22/13 vs. Boston, posted 12 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
• 1/30/14 vs. Phoenix, had 14 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
• 4/13/14 vs. Oklahoma City, notched 17 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds.
• 1/16/14 vs. New York, scored a career-high 28 points.
• Grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds on two occasions, 1/28/14 at the Lakers and 3/28/14 at Washington.
• PLAYOFFS: Appeared in 19 games (all starts), averaging 13.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 37.1 minutes.
• 5/20/14 vs. Miami, tied a playoff career-high with 29 points.
2012-13 (Indiana):
• Played in 78 games (72 starts), averaging 8.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 29.2 minutes.
• Scored in double figures 36 times, including three games of 20 points or more.
• Recorded two double-doubles.
• 3/27/13 at Houston, scored a season-high 21 points.
• Tallied a season-high 11 rebounds on 1/30/13 vs. Detroit and again on 3/15/13 vs. the Lakers.
• 3/6/13 vs Boston, had a career-high five steals.
• PLAYOFFS: Appeared in 19 games (all starts), averaging 9.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 35.4 minutes.
2011-12 (Indiana):
• Appeared in 42 games (one start), averaging 2.5 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 10.5 minutes per game.
• 4/25/12 vs. Chicago, scored a season-high 22 points in first career start.
• 1/11/12 vs. Atlanta, scored 12 points, grabbed five rebounds and handed out three assists.
• PLAYOFFS: Appeared in four games (zero starts), averaging 1.5 points in 3.0 minutes per game.
2010-11 (Indiana):
• Appeared in 12 games (zero starts) as a rookie, averaging 3.1 points, 1.8 assists and 1.5 rebounds in 9.6 minutes per game.
• 3/2/11 at Oklahoma City, posted season highs of 11 points and six rebounds.
• 2/27/11 vs. Phoenix, made NBA debut, scoring two points in four minutes.
COLLEGE (Cincinnati – 2009-10):
• Played one season at the University of Cincinnati.
• Appeared in 34 games, averaging 12.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 28.2 minutes per game.
• Named Big East Rookie of the Year.
• Ranked 28th in the Big East in scoring and first among Big East freshmen.
• Scored in double figures 23 times, including three games with 20 points or more.
• 3/6/10 at Georgetown, scored a season-high 23 points.
• 2/24/10 vs. DePaul, tallied 18 points and 10 rebounds.
• Scored in double figures in nine straight games to end the season.
PERSONAL:
• Full name is Lance Stephenson Jr.
• The son of Lance Sr. and Bernadette Stephenson.
• Has one brother.
• Finished his career at Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn, NY, as the all-time leading scorer in the history of the state of New York with 2,946 points.
Isaac Evolue Etue Bofenda Bonga (born November 8, 1999) is a German professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m), he began his professional career with the Frankfurt Skyliners of the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL). Born in Neuwied, Bonga represents the senior German national team in international competitions. He was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers (second round, 39th overall) and immediately traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2018 NBA draft.
