Published on November 29, 2024 at 12:22 p.m.
On Wednesday, 21-year-old French power forward Armel Traoré scored his very first points in the NBA with the Lakers. The former Blois and Boulogne-Levallois player seems adopted by the Californian franchise.
We had to wait for his third game, but that’s it, Armel Traoré is officially an NBA player who has scored points. After nine minutes of play (in total) against New Orleans and Denver without finding the opening (only one 3-point shot attempted), the French power forward scored two points during the Lakers’ victory in San Antonio this Wednesday. A relief for the 21-year-old, who confided in Basketball USA after the meeting in Texas. “When I saw that we won by a lot, I said to myself that I might have my chance. This first basket in the NBA marks the start of a great adventure. I came in, I was ready and the rest is history. When I scored my first points, my teammates were happy for me. D’Angelo Russell took the ball and said to me, “Take it home and show it to your mom.” They are all “good vets” as they say in the United States. They give good advice and help me a lot, whether it’s LeBron James, Anthony (Davis), and D’Angelo Russell. You couldn’t ask for better for a rookie. » Within a Lakers team currently fifth in the Western Conference (11 wins, 7 losses), the former Blois and Boulogne-Levallois player must for the moment be content with crumbs, but he hopes to make his place as the season progresses.
JJ Redick is won over
Beneficiary of a “two way” contract, which allows him to go back and forth between the NBA and the G-League, Armel Traoré has, to date, only played one match with the South Bay Lakers in G -League, but what a match! Against the Ontario Clippers, he scored 17 points and grabbed 22 rebounds in 39 minutes. Enough to encourage new Lakers coach JJ Redick to give him a chance at the next level: “He’s an elite rebounder and we think he can also become a very physical defender. But what stands out most of all is how hard he has this ability to play. He’s a guy we look forward to developing in our franchise.” And why not offer him a less precarious contract next season in the NBA. Where his little brother Nolan (18 years old) should arrive with the status of a very high drafted player.
