Kendrick Nunn was supposed to be one of the crucial cogs in the Los Angeles Lakers lineup last season, as he was expected to be the shooting answer for a backcourt with Russell Westbrook. The 2020 Rookie of the Year finalist had shown his skill-set during his time with the Miami Heat, and he was expected to continue his development on the Lakers.
However, a very mysterious bone bruise kept Nunn out for the entirety of the 2021-22 season after he participated in pre-season for the Lakers. This was a pretty significant loss as the Lakers guard rotation was paper-thin last season. While it led to an increased opportunity for players like Austin Reaves, the Lakers were expecting Nunn’s contributions to help them in their playoff push.
This offseason, the Lakers have added 4 new guards to the rotation in Patrick Beverley, Dennis Schroder, Lonnie Walker IV, and rookie Max Christie. Despite this, Nunn hopes to make a comeback into the Lakers lineup this season. He looks healthy based on his latest workout video.
Where Does Kendrick Nunn Fit Into The Lakers Lineup?
The Lakers have too many guards on their roster right now, which would make the outlook for Nunn grim, considering he missed the entirety of last season. However, he is still the best shooter among the Lakers guard, based on how he shot the ball in his final season with the Miami Heat.
The Lakers have too many guard combinations that they can try and use during the season, so that versatility may be an advantage that we haven’t realized yet. Nunn has good defensive instincts and could be their most well-rounded guard, but the lineup just doesn’t look very accommodating.
Unless the Lakers move a guard or 2 out of the rotation or trade them away, Nunn may struggle to find consistent minutes on a team that Darvin Ham is building for his play style. His determination to be a consistent contributor may be the factor that elevates him into a regular role on the team.
