Despite suffering their fifth consecutive loss — this time at the hands of the Boston Celtics — Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James was proud to see his teammates, particularly Moritz Wagner and Jonathan Williams, shine on both ends of the floor.
LeBron James on Moe Wagner & Jonathan Williams: "They were great. All night. Both on the offensive end & defensive end. Their energy & effort is something that we've been lacking." #Lakers
— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardLA) March 10, 2019
The Lakers have been plagued by injuries this season. Before the game, it was announced that Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball would miss the remainder of the season due to injuries, while Kyle Kuzma continues to be sidelined due to an ankle sprain he suffered against the LA Clippers a couple of days ago.
This forced the team to utilize some of the guys at the end of the bench, and when rookies Moritz Wagner and Jonathan Williams were called, they were ready to play.
Wagner, the 25th overall pick in last year's draft, finished with 22 points, six rebounds and three assists. Williams, who was undrafted, had a double-double with 18 points and 10 boards.
Both guys have been buried in the rotation for most of the campaign but never showed lack of motivation. It was a statement for them, and Walton would be wise to use them for the remainder of the season.
Wagner has been dealing with a foot injury for most of his rookie year, while Williams — for some reason — has lost his minutes despite showing flashes of being a great rebounder during the first few weeks of the season.
Follow Us
Subscribe