Robert Sacre was supposed to be the forgotten man. The 60th and last pick of the 2012 NBA Draft was set to become a ghost, that person you see but you don’t really see because he is no longer there. He is a place holder, a name to repeat and then off he goes somewhere else. He is either not tall enough, not athletic enough or not talented enough. He is Will Blalock who played one year with the Detroit Pistons in 2006-07 before traveling all over the world to play basketball. He is Semih Erden, drafted in 2008, a two year NBA player who spent the rest of his career overseas. He is Dwayne Collins, who never played one minute in the NBA, not even the year he was drafted in 2010.
Or he is Robert Sacre, the lucky one.
Mar 21, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Robert Sacre (50) dunks in the second half of the game against the Washington Wizards at Staples Center. Wizards won 117-107. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Drafted with the last pick in 2012 Robert Sacre has taken advantage of his fate. To everyone’s surprise he made the Lakers team and since then he has proven wrong the scouting report that said in harsh language he wasn’t talented enough for the NBA. He has lasted two NBA seasons and is on his third not out of charity, but because the Lakers management believe that at 7 feet tall he is capable of doing certain things on the court.
Born to athletic parents, a former NFL playing father and a mother who played basketball in college, Sacre made his way into the NBA by way of Canada and Gonzaga. Raised in British Columbia, Sacre has dual citizenship and spends his summers at the Lakers training facility trying to improve. He has always been one of those players with potential around the rim. He has the ability to block shots but is still a work in progress with his footwork and overall post defense. He’s a decent rebounder but will not amaze anyone with his offense. He is not explosive nor is he athletic but if hard work really is a talent, then Robert Sacre is gifted.
He came into the NBA with an identity. He was a high energy player, a person who loves to communicate and an incredible teammate. He doesn’t know how to not be supportive and his theatrics on the bench are a testament to his overall embrace of the team concept: we are brothers, we are one.
But he’s not much of a scorer, and his defense is average so where exactly does he fit in this new look Lakers offense and defense. Jordan Hill and Ed Davis will get a lot of the minutes at the center position. Julius Randle and Carlos Boozer will play center when the Lakers go small. So is Robert Scare just a towel waving, dancing, chest bumping, ain’t my life grand cheerleader this season?
Byron Scott will have to be convinced of Sacre’s commitment to rebounding. It’s a given his energy and infectious nature will make an impact on the coaching staff but will it translate into production? Sacre is not the Lakers best option at the center position but he works like he is in the D-league hoping to get an opportunity. Sacre doesn’t take plays off and he doesn’t take it for granted that he is in the NBA which is refreshing. He enjoys his NBA life.
Mar 23, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Robert Sacre (50) shoots the ball as Orlando Magic players Tobias Henry (12) and Dewayne Dedmon (12) defend at Staples Center. The Lakers won 103-94. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Sacre has played in 95 NBA games. His best game was this past April versus Utah. He played 29 minutes. He had 12 points, 9 rebounds, 1 block, 1 steal and the Lakers won in Salt Lake City.
It is rare for a last pick in the draft to be different than what everyone thought. But it happens. The year before the Lakers selected Robert Sacre the Sacramento Kings selected Isaiah Thomas. Isaiah has played in 216 games and has scored 3,000+ points. In the 1995 draft the Detroit Pistons drafted a 6-8 power forward with the last pick. His name was Don Reid. He played college at Georgetown and played in 403 NBA games.
So it gives Robert Sacre more optimisim than he already possesses, if that is even possible; given the right circumstances you can be lucky. Besides, luck is what the old saying says it is. Luck is when preparation meets hard work.