The Los Angeles Lakers haven’t looked great most of the time in recent games, but one player has stood out: Talen Horton-Tucker.
The 20-year-old guard came back to the rotation three games ago against the San Antonio Spurs and has looked sharp both offensively and defensively.
After dropping 25 points and 12 rebounds in Wednesday’s loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, Horton-Tucker has made noise about remaining a starter even when LeBron James returns to the lineup from injury.
Head coach Frank Vogel said he hasn’t decided if Horton-Tucker will stay as a starter because of his possible contributions as a reserve.
“Yes, that’s not to say that when ‘Bron comes back or we’re whole, I haven’t made any decisions about what that’s ultimately going to look like because, sometimes, scoring off the bench is what you need,” Vogel said after the loss to Milwaukee.
Vogel commended Horton-Tucker’s play at both ends and said a spot in the starting lineup is definitely possible.
“But he’s playing as good as anybody from the standpoint of both sides of the ball, what he’s giving to us on defense and what he’s giving to us on offense,” Vogel said. “He’s been terrific in his first few games back, and he’ll have a big role, but definitely has made a case.”
The Lakers could run a starting five of Russell Westbrook, Avery Bradley, Horton-Tucker, LeBron and Anthony Davis. Carmelo Anthony, who has started the last three games, would return to the bench and resume his usual sixth-man role. Anthony has thrived in that role, so it would be a simple switch.
Vogel could also stagger Westbrook and Horton-Tucker so they’re not always sharing the floor, which would allow Malik Monk and Wayne Ellington — and eventually Kendrick Nunn and Austin Reaves when healthy — to enter and increase the floor spacing.
