Malachi Flynn of the Detroit Pistons scored a career-high 50 points off the bench in a game against the Atlanta Hawks, setting a new franchise record and tying for the second-most points scored off the bench in NBA history. Flynn's performance included 33 points in the second half and impressive shooting percentages, as well as season-high stats in rebounds, assists, and steals. Despite the loss, Flynn expressed pride in his achievement and the significance of the moment.
The Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to a two-year contract with Christian Wood, adding the talented big man to their roster. Wood will sign for the veteran's minimum with a player option in the second season. Known for his ability to stretch the floor on offense, Wood's signing provides the Lakers with another player in his prime. While he has had consistency issues on the defensive end, the Lakers believe Wood can contribute as a scoring big man off the bench, especially given Anthony Davis' injury history and LeBron James' age. The risk is low for the Lakers, but the potential payoff is significant.
Tristan Thompson, who served as a bench player for the Los Angeles Lakers during the playoffs, expressed his desire to return to the team next season. Thompson played a crucial role in providing advice and being a chemistry guy on the bench. He also proved to be a viable alternative for the Lakers in his 10 minutes on the court during the playoffs. Thompson is open to filling the same role next season and hopes to be part of what the Lakers are building.
Lakers' head coach Darvin Ham expressed his excitement for Rui Hachimura's breakout performance in the NBA playoffs, where he has been a consistent and impressive bench player. Hachimura has been a bright spot for the Lakers, scoring 16 points in their latest game against the Grizzlies and becoming the first Lakers bench player since 2008 to score at least 15 points in three straight playoff games. He has also been efficient in his three-point shooting, with a 75% success rate, and has an effective field goal percentage of 89.5% on spot-up opportunities.
