After a phenomenal year at Baylor University, Cameron Carr found new doors opening up for him at the next level. With the Los Angeles Lakers selecting him with the 24th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, Carr followed in his father’s footsteps into the NBA.
Because of Chris Carr’s (his father) influence, being in an NBA environment and around superstars isn’t new to the 21-year-old wing. Still, joining one of the most storied franchises in the sporting world, especially in a luxurious city like Los Angeles, is a different ballgame altogether.
During a recent interview with ClutchPoints’ Tomer Azarly, Cameron Carr went into great detail on several topics. When speaking about more personal matters, however, the 21-year-old displayed notable maturity. While discussing the financial side of being a professional athlete and the “life-changing” money that comes with it, Carr shared:
“Save, save, save. Be greedy when it comes to your money. Save your money. And so, financially, I have a really good financial team around me. And so, try to be ahead of it so then I can look back 10 years from now and be like, you know what, I’m glad I did that, or I’m glad I made this move.”
Cameron Carr’s instinct to save may be appropriate, especially in a city like Los Angeles. Although the 21-year-old is set to earn $3.3 million this season, with L.A.’s state taxes having a drastic impact on the eventual income in hand, such wisdom is justified.
“Man, I gotta be financially smart, don’t get caught up in outside of distractions, and just take care of what I take care of, and that’s everything on the court,” Carr added about living in L.A.
The rookie seems to have a clear head on his shoulders, and his straightforward outlook on himself and what he needs to do is largely promising. However, it is his approach toward gambling that is far more reassuring, as he commented:
“Yeah, stay away from it. Don’t touch it. I mean, that’s the biggest thing I took away from it. Just have nothing to do with it. Keep it very, very simple, which is that it’s an ‘X.’ There’s an ‘X’ over that.”
With gambling becoming a serious problem in the sporting world, it is easy for impressionable athletes to get carried away and jeopardize their careers. Hence, even with the ease of access to different betting apps and platforms, Cameron Carr’s decision to abstain from using them could be viewed favorably in the long run.
Cameron Carr Opens Up On Playing For The Lakers
As one of the most well-known sporting franchises in global sports, it is a dream for many aspiring players to don the Purple and Gold. In this regard, Cameron Carr was no different. While sharing his thoughts on being a Laker, the 21-year-old commented:
“Man, this reality hasn’t set in yet; it’s probably going to take a little bit. But when it hits me like, man, I play for the L.A. Lakers. But, I mean, of course, exciting. It’s a rich tradition, a team and players that came before me, so all I can do is act for them, right?”
When asked what he could bring to the table for the team, he responded:
“I’ll do whatever it takes to win. I wouldn’t necessarily put a stamp on if I’m ready or if I’m not ready. Whatever they need to do to help the team win, I’m willing to do it.”
Shortly after being drafted, Cameron Carr already had a clear idea of how he wanted to contribute to the Lakers. However, his motivation to live up to expectations and help the team win was far more notable.
For the most part, the 21-year-old has shown tremendous potential as a rotational piece. Aside from elite athleticism, Carr possesses solid perimeter shooting skills and exceptional defensive instincts. When also factoring in his passionate involvement even during Summer League, the Lakers should be excited to see him in action.
With averages of 17.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, 0.4 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game at the Summer League, Cameron Carr provided a taste of how he could contribute to the Purple and Gold next season. Although his shooting splits of 42.3% from the field and 29.2% from beyond the arc leave more to be desired, his potential is certainly worth investing in.
