David Nwaba; Shooting Guard
Nwaba came out of nowhere for the Lakers last season. Once the youth movement was in full swing, the Lakers were shutting down veterans left and right. With roster spots open, the Lakers decided to sign Nwaba to a 10-day contract.
He performed well and earned a second 10-day deal. The Lakers liked him enough to keep him for the remainder of the season and Nwaba continued producing.Fast forward to this past week, and the Lakers were picking up Nwaba’s option for the 2017-18 season, and with good reason.
Nwaba brings a ton of energy to the court. He is active defensively and supremely athletic. His presence defensively was felt right away on a team that lacked much defensive resistance towards opposing offenses. Nwaba’s performance defensively is a big reason for the Lakers keeping him around.
Nwaba is a hard worker, which is something the Lakers also like. Even after his option was picked up, he was back in the gym later that day to continue working on his game. That kind of work ethic is infectious, as he and Josh Hart should help change the culture of the Lakers locker room despite being young players.
If the Lakers can develop Nwaba’s three-point shot, watch out. He has the potential to guard multiple positions and turn into a legitimate 3-and-D guy for the Lakers. His athleticism will be fun to watch in the open court with Lonzo Ball leading the way.