Carr delivered a game-high 23 points on 8-of-18 shooting in 29 minutes. He hit three triples, contributing one rebound, two assists, and one blocked shot. His effort helped the Lakers pull away to a 99-85 win against cross-town rival Los Angeles Clippers, with head coach JJ Redick in attendance observing the action.
Lakers Rookie Carr Continues to Impress
This victory propelled the Lakers to a flawless 3-0 mark in Las Vegas, following a 2-1 showing at the California Classic in San Francisco. Carr’s latest performance added to the growing belief that Los Angeles might have uncovered a valuable long-term two-way contributor in the first round of the draft. The Baylor product again demonstrated poise on both ends of the floor, and notably played a clean game with zero turnovers against the Clippers.
Through five Summer League appearances across California and Nevada, Carr has posted averages of 18.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.0 block per game in about 25 minutes per contest. He shoots 44.9 percent from the field and 36.1 percent from three-point range while attempting roughly seven attempts per game from beyond the arc. Despite the strong offensive output, Carr has been clear about his focus on improving defensively.
“I gotta be better. I gotta be a lot better defensively,” Carr remarked after the season opener. “I can get as many deflections as I want, but if you give up a straight line drive, you still can’t help anybody.” He added that he needs to be more vocal, more aware, and avoid lapses in coverage so opponents don’t have easy avenues to attack him.
Carr’s defensive development will likely influence how quickly he earns steady NBA minutes. His physical profile—a 42-inch vertical leap and a 7-foot-1 wingspan—gives him a solid foundation to grow into a versatile, high-level defender at the next level.
Supporting Cast Strong in Summer League
Carr wasn’t the only Lakers youngster making strides. Second-year forward Adou Thiero contributed a well-rounded line of 13 points, six rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block while shooting an efficient 5-of-6 from the floor. Chris Manon also continued to show promise during Summer League, collecting 17 points and 11 rebounds in another strong outing.
Though Manon shot 5-of-14 overall, he knocked down two triples, grabbed four offensive rebounds, and added two steals, continuing to demonstrate two-way potential that could translate to NBA opportunities this season.
Arthur Kaluma maintained consistent production after a standout 34-point burst against Dallas. With Carr in the mix, Kaluma moved back to the bench and delivered 15 points in 23 minutes, going 4-of-7 from the field, including three three-pointers, while handing out four assists and committing just one turnover.
Upcoming Schedule and Implications
The Lakers are set to return to action on Thursday, facing the Chicago Bulls, who feature No. 4 overall pick Caleb Wilson. As one of only four unbeaten teams remaining in Summer League, Los Angeles is positioned to make a strong push toward the playoff bracket in the tournament-style format. The top four teams advance to the main playoff bracket, while the remaining squads compete in consolation games, leaving ample opportunity for continued evaluation and development for Las Vegas’s Lakers.
Overall, Carr’s latest performance, along with the continued contributions from Thiero, Manon, and Kaluma, reinforces the notion that Los Angeles has depth and potential development pieces that could influence the NBA team’s rotation this coming season. The Summer League run remains a valuable proving ground for evaluating two-way players and assessing how their skill sets translate to a higher level of competition, and the Lakers are making a compelling case for several players to earn extended looks in the future.
