LOS ANGELES – The last few years have been rough on Los Angeles Lakers newcomer Avery Bradley. After a successful stint with the Boston Celtics in which he earned the distinction of being one of the best defenders in the NBA, Bradley has struggled to stay healthy. He has bounced around the league since being traded by the Celtics to the Detroit Pistons in July of 2017.
Bradley is now on his fourth team since leaving Boston and is determined to make an impact in Los Angeles as the team tries to contend for a title this season. On Tuesday, the 28-year-old guard got a chance to face one of his former teams in the Memphis Grizzlies who he played only 14 games for last season and was waived this past summer paving the way for the Lakers to sign him as a free agent.
“It was weird, but that's what the NBA is about,” Bradly said of playing against his former team. “Going up against teams you've played against, seeing some familiar faces, makes it fun. There are some guys that are there, some of the coaches are there, it was nice to see those guys tonight, and it was even better to get a win against them.”
Although Bradley admits to it being weird to face the Grizzlies, he does have a fondness for Memphis and the short time he spent with the team last season.
“My time there was special,” Bradley said. “I enjoyed it. I felt like I was home.”
Fortunately for Bradley, he's got an opportunity to be apart of something in a different way in Los Angeles. The Lakers are proving to be the real deal after four games, and there chances of contending for a title this season continue to improve, especially with Anthony Davis putting up MVP-caliber numbers.
Even Bradley admitted following Davis' record-setting performance against the Grizzlies that his new teammate is on that MVP level right now. Davis set a franchise mark for free throws made (26) on his way to scoring 40 points and grabbing 20 rebounds in only 31 minutes on the floor.
“It was incredible,” Bradley said of Davis' performance. “I've been unlucky being on the other side of it, and now being on the same side as him, it's just incredible to see. He dominated on both ends of the floor. He played amazing tonight…He's definitely playing at an MVP level.”
With this 29-point win over the Grizzlies, the Lakers will embark on their first lengthy road trip of the season in which they'll face the Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs, and Chicago Bulls. It'll be the team's first test away from the Staples Center since bringing on Bradley, Davis, and all the other newcomers on this championship-caliber team before heading back home on November 8.
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