Lake Show Life
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Thomas Bryant gets last laugh over Lakers with comical champ celebration

By Jason Reed

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 22: Thomas Bryant #13 of the Denver Nuggets looks to pass during the second half of the game against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on March 22, 2023 in Washington, DC. 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 Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 22: Thomas Bryant #13 of the Denver Nuggets looks to pass during the second half of the game against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on March 22, 2023 in Washington, DC. 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 Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Lakers made it farther than most pundits expected the team to go, making it to the Western Conference Finals where they ultimately fell short and were swept by the Denver Nuggets.

Los Angeles was only in that position because of the moves the team made at the deadline. But they weren’t all great. The Lakers traded Thomas Bryant to the same Nuggets team for multiple second-round picks and it ended up hurting LA in the Western Conference Finals. While Bryant reportedly demanded the trade as he wanted a bigger role, it still hurt the Lake Show to not have a trusted backup big against Denver.

What made it worse was the fact that Bryant didn’t even have a role on the Nuggets. He hardly played in the regular season and was axed from the playoff rotation. For many Lakers fans, this was a source of comedy as LA was able to pick up some assets and Bryant didn’t even end up getting what he wanted.

But at the end of the day, Bryant ended up getting the last laugh over Lakers fans. Not only did the Nuggets make quick work of his former team, but Denver also went on to win the NBA Finals in five games. Despite not being part of the rotation, this made Bryant a champion and he made sure to let the world know it.

Thomas Bryant gets last laugh over Lakers with champ celebration

To be fair to Bryant, he actually did see time on the court during the NBA Finals for the Nuggets. After not playing a single minute leading up to the Finals, Bryant logged 29 seconds of game action against the Heat in Game 3. It might not be much but it is still more than any Laker had in the NBA Finals.

Bryant is not the only former Laker to bring home championship gold with the Nuggets. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who struggled in the Finals but was an integral player in the Western Conference Finals, is now a two-time champion.

Davon Reed will have a championship ring now too. Reed was traded to the Lakers as part of the Bryant trade and while he was not on the Nuggets during the playoffs, he did play 35 games for the team this season, giving him a championship ring.

But nobody is happier than Bryant, who may not have gotten what he wanted in a larger role with the Nuggets but has a nice shiny championship ring to display on his mantle.

Next. 22 players the Lakers gave up on too early. dark

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