Los Angeles Lakers Mid-Season Awards
By Jacob Rude
Dunk of the Year – Wesley Johnson Destroys Danilo Gallinari
There is not a more frustrating player on this year’s Lakers to root for than Johnson. On one night, he can go off for 19 points on 4 of 7 shooting from three and help the Lakers nearly win. However, he’s just as likely to go 0 for 5 from the field and watch the Lakers get blown out.
However, it’s plays like this that keep making coaches take risks on him.
With the Lakers entrenched in a dog fight with the fourth quarter winding down, Jeremy Lin stripped Ty Lawson of the ball and raced the other way. With Nick Young on one side and Johnson on the other, Lin chose the high-flyer over the three-point specialist, and boy was it the right move.
Unfortunately for Gallinari, he was unaware of Johnson’s high-flying act. He did get the last laugh, though, as the Nuggets would come back to win the game.
Next: Sixth Man of the Year