During his first stint with the Los Angeles Lakers two seasons ago, guard Dennis Schroder rubbed some fans the wrong way by giving off an attitude that was perceived as prickly and self-entitled.
Some of those Lakers supporters believed he insisted on being in the starting lineup. He also very notably asked for a lucrative contract extension in the area of at least $20 million a year that he perhaps wasn’t worth.
It was a seemingly humbled Schroder who returned to the Lakers this season on a veteran’s minimum contract. Until last week’s Russell Westbrook trade, he was a fixture in their starting lineup.
But on Wednesday against the New Orleans Pelicans, head coach Darvin Ham moved him to the bench and went with D’Angelo Russell and Malik Beasley, both of whom were acquired in the Westbrook deal, as his starting backcourt.
It seems like the German native is sporting the right attitude about the change in his role (h/t The Cold Wire).
Dennis Schroder’s response to Darvin Ham asking him to coming off the bench:
“I can do anything he needs. We want to win.”
(via Dennis’ YT) pic.twitter.com/Srxy3JfAKE
— Top Ball Coverage (@TopBallCoverage) February 16, 2023
In 20 minutes, Schroder gave L.A. a boost with 10 points on 3-of-4 shooting, including a 3-pointer, two assists and zero turnovers.
If Ham elects to stick with this starting lineup, it will be up to Schroder to run the Lakers’ second unit while speeding up the pace of the game and bothering opposing point guards on defense.
In such a role, he will be forced to assert himself offensively more than he has, as he will be playing more minutes without either LeBron James or Anthony Davis to defer to.
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