Grading Lakers Players After An Impressive Victory Against Timberwolves

The Los Angeles Lakers imposed an imposing victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, winning the game 110-103. Anthony Davis scored 36 points and 16 rebounds, and LeBron James and Rui Hachimura played steady. The Lakers moved the ball well, netting 22 assists, and were more than effective defensively, coming up with 8 blocks and 7 steals. They also forced the Timberwolves into 15 turnovers and much of that comes from the presence of Anthony Davis, who stole the show and the most impressive player in this matchup.

We also witnessed a historic moment for the NBA as rookie Bronny James made his debut under the guidance of head coach JJ Redick, who also marked his first regular-season game. Bronny briefly stepped onto the court for three minutes in the second quarter, sharing the floor with his legendary father (before Bronny exited the game and didn’t make the court again). Together, they became the first father-son duo to play in the same NBA game, and that topped off an impressive victory for the Lakers.

Anthony Davis: A+

Stats: 36 points, 16 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 3 blocks, 11-23 FG, 1-3 3-PT FG, 38 mins

Anthony Davis was nothing short of dominant in the Lakers’ hard-fought victory over the Timberwolves. Davis made life miserable for Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle, who struggled to keep pace with him all night. Davis’ ability to knock down shots over Randle and blow past Gobert gave the Lakers a clear edge on both ends of the floor. Offensively, he was relentless, scoring 36 points and bullying Minnesota’s frontline, and his 16 rebounds demonstrated his command of the paint.

Davis also excelled on defense, where his presence was truly game-changing. With 3 blocks and his intimidation at the rim, the Timberwolves had no easy paths to the basket. His defensive impact, combined with his offensive efficiency, has solidified his early candidacy for Defensive Player of the Year.

With Karl-Anthony Towns missing, Minnesota simply had no answer for him, and his two-way excellence will be the key to the Lakers’ success as the season progresses. If Davis can maintain this level of play, the Lakers will be legitimate contenders in the Western Conference.

LeBron James: B+

Stats: 16 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 0 steals, 2 blocks, 7-16 FG, 1-4 3-PT FG, 35 mins

LeBron James had a solid but unspectacular performance, something that seems to reflect the natural course of time. While James contributed 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists, it was clear that he’s no longer the same explosive force we’ve seen throughout his career. For the first time, LeBron appeared a step slower, relying more on his basketball IQ and strength than the burst and speed that have defined his game for so long. Dare we say: Father Time is finally catching up to The King. 

Despite this, James remained effective, hitting big shots when needed and providing crucial defensive plays, including 2 blocks that helped set the tone for the Lakers’ defense. Of course, the real test will come later in the season when LeBron’s ability to manage his minutes and maintain his health becomes crucial for the Lakers’ playoff aspirations.

Rui Hachimura: B+

Stats: 18 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 1 block, 7-14 FG, 1-4 3-PT FG, 35 mins

Rui Hachimura stepped up in this game, providing the offensive spark the Lakers needed as a third option behind Davis and LeBron. Hachimura’s mid-range game was on full display, as he hit several key shots and kept the Lakers’ offense balanced. His efficiency (50% from the field) was exactly what the team needed, and his 35 minutes on the floor were a testament to his importance in the rotation. 

Defensively, Hachimura was solid, contributing 2 steals and a block, and his presence on the boards helped keep the Timberwolves from getting second-chance opportunities. Hachimura needs to be more aggressive and take more shots and this was a great start for him in the season.

Austin Reaves: B

Stats: 12 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 6-14 FG, 0-5 3-PT FG, 36 mins

Austin Reaves had an up-and-down game, contributing in multiple areas but struggling with his shot from beyond the arc. While he went 0-5 from three-point range, Reaves made up for it by attacking the basket and finishing inside, shooting 6-9 on two-point attempts. 

His ability to contribute in other areas—grabbing 9 rebounds and dishing out 4 assists—showcased the versatility that makes him such an important piece for the Lakers. He was also active defensively, recording 1 steal and 1 block, and his energy on both ends of the floor was evident throughout his 36 minutes.

Jaxson Hayes: B

Stats: 10 points, 4 rebounds, 0 assists, 0 steals, 1 block, 4-5 FG, 0-0 3-PT FG, 15 mins

Jaxson Hayes proved to be an active performer, contributing in limited minutes. To generate 10 points on 80% shooting from a backup big man is every team’s dream and Hayes came in with a ton of energy. Finishing around the rim and catching a lob to ignite the crowd is what the Lakers need from Hayes this season. Again, the Timberwolves struggled with size and the 7’0″ Hayes added to their misery. Considering he is a backup player, he gets a B grade for his performance.  

D’Angelo Russell: C+

Stats: 9 points, 1 rebound, 5 assists, 2 steals, 0 blocks, 4-12 FG, 1-7 3-PT FG, 34 mins

D’Angelo Russell had a quiet night offensively, shooting just 33% from the field and struggling from three-point range (1-7). Fortunately for the Lakers, they didn’t need a big scoring night from Russell, as Anthony Davis and Rui Hachimura carried the offensive load. Russell’s 5 assists and 2 steals helped make up for his poor shooting, but overall, it was a lackluster performance for a player who has the potential to provide more offensively.

The Lakers will need Russell to find his groove as the season progresses, particularly from beyond the arc, where his ability to stretch the floor is crucial for opening up space for LeBron and Davis. If Russell wants to continue being the Lakers’ starting point guard, he needs to up his play and find ways to contribute when he struggled from the court. 

Dalton Knecht: C+

Stats: 5 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 1 steal, 0 blocks, 2-4 FG, 1-3 3-PT FG, 16 mins

Dalton Knecht is coming off a fantastic 35-point performance in the preseason against the Suns when he drained eight three-pointers but was unable to earn major minutes even if JJ Redick entrusted him with 16 minutes off the bench. He did make a three-pointer, something we will come to expect, but did not have the major impact in his NBA debut that we expected. He moved the ball well and played his role and the Lakers got the victory, meaning he gets a C+. 

Gabe Vincent: C

Stats: 2 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 0 steals, 0 blocks, 1-2 FG, 0-0 3-PT FG, 17 mins

Gabe Vincent did not show that he was the same man who helped the Miami Heat make the NBA Finals in 2022-23 and that has been the case since he arrived in Los Angeles. He had a little impact off the bench and made some nice passes, but wasn’t exactly at his peak. It seems injuries might have affected Vincent’s play because he is a shell of his former self and that is a shame considering he is making $10 million this season.

Max Christie: C

Stats: 2 points, 2 rebounds, 0 assists, 0 steals, 0 blocks, 0-3 FG, 0-3 3-PT FG, 11 mins

Max Christie only got 11 minutes on the court and in limited time, he played well within the offense and did not do anything crazy. However, going 0-3 from three is not going to cut it, especially when the Lakers will need plenty of bench help down the stretch of the season. To be fair to him, Christie did not have a bad game considering his limited minutes but it wasn’t great either. 

Bronny James: N/A

Stats: 0 points, 1 rebound, 0 assists, 0 steals, 0 blocks, 0-2 FG, 0-1 3-PT FG, 3 mins

We finally got to witness the much-anticipated debut of Bronny James alongside LeBron James and while it was truly amazing to witness the first father-son duo in history, it wasn’t the debut we imagined. Bronny did not get on the court much, only playing three minutes, and hardly contributed. Coach JJ Redick will be careful not to throw Bronny into the fire early in the season so we might see very little of Bronny over the next few weeks.

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