The Los Angeles Lakers have had a strong start to the season, but Wednesday’s shellacking at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder proves that they still have some work to do before they can compete with the Western Conference’s top team. The trade deadline will be the best time for the team to make moves, but in the meantime, they’re going to take a closer look at a high-upside young guard.
He still has some work to do if he hopes to make the Lakers’ NBA roster, but this is a very good step for him. Los Angeles has shown that they aren’t scared to call up players from their G League team. If Bufkin can play well for South Bay, he’ll have a chance to play some NBA minutes for the Lakers this season.
Austin Reaves Talks Thunder Loss
The Lakers weren’t even close to being competitive during their 121-92 loss to the Thunder. Oklahoma City is clearly the best team in the NBA right now, but if the Lakers have their eyes on a title, that’s who they have to beat.
Austin Reaves didn’t mince words after the loss.
“To be blunt, they beat the (expletive) out of us tonight,” Reaves said, via The Athletic. “And there’s a lot of basketball to be played. We feel as if we can get to that level. Just tonight, we (weren’t) anywhere close to that.” The Lakers are in the midst of a five-game road trip, and Luka Doncic would like to see better play from the team.
“I think you have to look big picture and then have to look with where your team is at right now. And I don’t think it’s been a great road trip for us, just in terms of how we played,” Doncic said. “Second half against Charlotte, I liked everything that I saw. But the Atlanta game [and] tonight, I don’t think are reflective of who the group is going to be. But it clearly is who the group is right now. And so we’ve got to course correct.”
Doncic Not Concerned
The Lakers’ loss to the Thunder was ugly, but it’s still early in the season. Plus, the team hasn’t had LeBron James yet.
Doncic isn’t concerned about his Lakers team quite yet.
”I think it’s not concerning. I think it’s more of a big motivation,” Doncic said. “Like I said, they were the champions for a reason and it’s a big motivation. They started the year even better, I think so. It’s a big motivation to see how they play and try to stop them.”
Former Michigan guard Kobe Bufkin was a player the Lakers liked in the 2023 NBA Draft, but they never got a chance to select him. He was the No. 15 pick of the Atlanta Hawks, but wasn’t able to stick with the team. He was traded to the Brooklyn Nets, but was waived before getting a chance to play. He’ll now have to work his way up in the G League. According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, the South Bay Lakers are planning to acquire Bufkin.
