When the Los Angeles Lakers traded away Dennis Schroder, fans of the team expected Talen Horton-Tucker to step up. Much has been made about the potential of this young guard. Horton-Tucker has shown flashes of what he can bring to the table for LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

On the Lakers' Thursday night matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies, he provided more than a simple bang for the team. Talen Horton-Tucker dunked all over Grizzlies center Steven Adams, sending shockwaves around LakeShow.

 

Talen Horton-Tucker has been a solid piece for the Lakers this season. After being buried under the depth chart of the team last season, he was thrust into a more prominent role with the departure of Dennis Schroder, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Kyle Kuzma. THT has been chugging along for the team, averaging 10.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists on the season.

The problem with THT has never been his play, though. Despite subpar shooting from deep, he's proven to be a player capable of keeping his spot on the rotation. It's his fans that have been insufferable, comparing him to Lakers legends like Kobe Bryant. No matter how good or bad a player is, setting unwarranted expectations for him is a sure-fire way for any player to crumble.

Thankfully, Horton-Tucker has shown he has the poise to play with the pressures of Lakers fans. Who knows? Maybe one day, he can fulfill everyone's expectations and be the star of the franchise after LeBron's inevitable retirement. For now, though, he's just doing his part in the Lakers' bid for another title.