Los Angeles Lakers: 4 reasons Jared Dudley will be an underrated role player

Jared Dudley was a free agent signing by the Los Angeles Lakers that has largely flown under the radar but could have a significant impact as the 2019-20 NBA season unfolds.

As the Los Angeles Lakers were embarking on their ill-fated pursuit of reigning NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard in early July, they signed two role players to veteran minimum contracts: Troy Daniels, a 3-point specialist, and Jared Dudley. Both signings got little fanfare from the media and Lakers fans alike, almost to the point where they were virtually ignored.

But once the rest of the roster materialized and looked to be championship-caliber, it became clear to those who pay attention to detail that Dudley could play a key role on this Lakers team, at least based on his track record over the years.

Dudley broke into the NBA as the 22nd overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft by the then-Charlotte Bobcats. By his third season, he became a key role player off the bench for the last iteration of the Seven Seconds or Less-era Phoenix Suns team, one that came tantalizingly close to reaching the championship series, but was denied by Kobe Bryant and a clutch shot by Ron Artest.

That season, Dudley averaged 8.2 points per game and shot a sterling 45.8 percent from downtown while playing 24.3 minutes.

He’s bounced around the league a bit since, and last played for the Brooklyn Nets this past season. At age 34 now, some may not think much of him, but he’s the type of ancillary player that a championship team needs.

Here are four reasons why he can help this Lakers team win the NBA championship this upcoming season.