LOS ANGELES – The Lakers were in a tough situation against the Raptors in the second quarter on Sunday. Toronto was up by seven points on the roadas the Lakers were staring down the barrel of a third straight loss.
That’s when head coach JJ Redick turned to an unusual player to help flip the script: Drew Timme.
If that name sounds unfamiliar to you, that’s to be expected.
While Timme signed a two-way deal with the Lakers back in November, he’s played in only seven games for the purple and gold. And in six of those contests, he was just in during garbage time shifts.
However, he had a breakout 21-point performance Saturday in a loss to the Blazers. So, even though LA had their bigs Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes back on Sunday, Redick went to the 6’9” player from Gonzaga to start the second quarter.
The results were phenomenal.
Timme had an assist to LeBron, who hit a wing 3-pointer to make it a one-possession game, helping kickstart a game-changing run that turned the tide for the Lakers.
He was cleaning up the glass and even hit a three from near the top of the key to extend LA’s lead. The Raptors called for a timeout, but the damage had been done. A seven-point Raptors lead had turned into a seven-point Lakers advantage.
“He was great,” Redick said postgame. “He certainly earned a spot coming off last night, where he played phenomenal… but it’s still like a little jarring to see Vando, Drew, [Ayton], LeBron, that’s a big lineup. And they did a good job of playing out of the post during that stretch, and we also were able to get some stops and run.”
Timme is another example of the team using the South Bay Lakers to win on the margins. He was impactful in this win and fellow two-way player Nick Smith Jr. had a similar effect when he scored 25 points in a victory over the Blazers earlier this year.
It’s a realization of the “model for integration” Redick discussed when he took the job. And two years into his time as the head coach, the vision is being realized.
“I’ve been down there [with the South Bay Lakers] for a decent amount and then they hold me accountable and they push me and then they keep me sharp for moments when I am called upon,” Timme said. “You just got to be ready whenever your number is called. And it’s awesome that both teams are so connected.
“It helps me be prepared for moments like this because you can go a lot of times without touching the ball and getting some good burn in. It’s pretty awesome to have a setup like we do here.”
While Timme helped shift momentum, the job wasn’t finished. He entered the game again in the fourth for his second shift and shined once again.
Timme continued grabbing rebounds, played above replacement level on defense and had a nice dime to Rui Hachimura. When he entered the fourth, LA was up seven, and when he was subbed out for LeBron, the lead was up to 16.
During his postgame presser, he was as cool as can be.He walked in wearing a shirt that said “Sexual Tyrannosaurus” on it, a shirt more likely to be found in a thrift store than on a professional athlete.
During his moment in the sun, Timme was just giddy about the chance to play and show what he could do.
He might not always get minutes, but against the Raptors, he made those minutes matter. And for a player trying to show the world that his basketball story is written in pencil, not ink, that’s all he, the Lakers and their fans can ask for.
“In college and since I’ve left, it’s, ‘You can’t do this. You can’t do that’” Timme said. “Like, all these things that I can’t do. And, I see it, and it’s fuel. And at the end of the day, I’m a good player.
“I believe in myself and my abilities, and I believe that I can impact the game at any level, anywhere. And just carrying that belief with me, it helps push me on days when maybe I’m not as motivated. But it’s great to be able to have this opportunity and to be able to help the team.”
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
