With LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Avery Bradley and Danny Green on the sidelines during Monday’s preseason matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors, Zach Norvell Jr. made the most of his opportunity for extended minutes. While playing at home in the Staples Center for the first time as a professional, the undrafted rookie from Gonzaga showed out with a team-high 22 points on 6-of-13 shooting from the field. He’d also connect on a trio of 3-pointers while helping Los Angeles to a 104-98 victory.
Norvell Jr. played two seasons for Mark Few at Gonzaga and averaged 14 points and three assists per contest. Since entering the NBA, the 6-5 guard from Chicago signed a two-way contract with the Lakers for this season despite not hearing his name called on draft night. Against the Warriors, he’d also flash his athleticism off-the-bounce with an ankle-breaking crossover that ended with an and-one finish and the Lakers bench erupting in celebration, The young baller would earn praise from head coach Frank Vogel after the game as well for demonstrating his ability to score in multiple ways.
“Zach has a real knack for scoring the basketball,” Vogel said according to NBA.com. “He’s not just a shooter, he understands how he’s being guarded, how the bigs are approaching him when he comes off screens … everybody has to honor him, so he brings gravity to the team.”
In a crowded backcourt, it’s hard to see Zach being a difference-maker on the NBA level this season. But it’s certainly encouraging for Lakers fans to know there is developmental talent like Norvell Jr. in the pipeline who have–at least in preseason action–shown the ability to take advantage of an opportunity when their number is called. There’s also plenty of reasons to think the poised young guard will only get better in the meantime.
