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Los Angeles Lakers: Brook Lopez admits season was toughest

By Kenneth Teape

NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 22: Brook Lopez #11 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the first half against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on March 22, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 22: Brook Lopez #11 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the first half against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on March 22, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers center Brook Lopez admitted that this season was a challenging one for him.

The Los Angeles Lakers had high hopes for center Brook Lopez this season. The Lakers acquired Lopez, along with the No. 27 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, from the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for D’Angelo Russell and Timofey Mozgov.

At the time of the trade, it was widely believed that Lopez would be the most impactful player in that deal. Here we are with the 2017-18 regular season over, and it was not Lopez who had the biggest impact in this deal. In fact it was Kyle Kuzma, who was selected No. 27 overall.

While Kuzma was one of the most consistent performers for Los Angeles this season, the same cannot be said for Lopez. Lopez’s skill set was something the Lakers needed desperately. He has turned into one of the better stretch-5’s in the NBA and also brought a presence defensively as a rim protector. We saw glimpses of that, but never consistently.

Lopez never really found his niche with the young Lakers. His lumbering style didn’t fit in with their up-tempo pace led by rookie Lonzo Ball. As a result, Lopez had one of the worst seasons, statistically, of his career.

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The 13 points he averaged per game tied for his career-low, while he had the worst shooting season of his career, making only 46.5 percent of his shot attempts. The 4.1 rebounds per game he averaged was the worst mark of his career, as were his 23.4 minutes played per game.

There were some stretches that Lopez really turned it on. In early November, Lopez scored at least 21 points in three consecutive games. From Feb. 24 through March 22 Lopez scored in double figures every game, a stretch that lasted 13 games.

While he played well in some stretches, consistency was never found. That is part of the reason that Lopez called this season the toughest of his career.

"“I think this one was my most challenging. Being thrown into a new situation, there were a lot of variables, and this was a team trying to find its identity. We had a lot of new players and it took some time to gel.“I don’t think I really reached my best basketball this season. I played well for a stretch or two but I still think my best basketball is ahead of me.”"

Luke Walton had a tough job integrating so many new faces into the lineup this season. In addition to Lopez, he had three new rookies to learn about. Players were constantly shuffling around with the new two-way contracts, and new faces were added at the NBA Trade Deadline as well. Injuries also played a factor in the shuffling lineups.

The Lakers were undoubtedly hoping to receive more of an impact from Lopez, but the season wasn’t a total wash. Lopez did play in 74 games, no small feat for a player who has struggled with injuries throughout his career. The only games he missed all season were in late December and on New Year’s Day when he was dealing with an ankle sprain.

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While the season as a whole didn’t go well, Lopez still has plenty to give to a team. His ability to space the floor with his 3-point shooting and protect the rim are skills plenty of teams can use.

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