Lakers draft profile on former Indiana center Thomas Bryant
By Jason Elbaum
The Lakers selected Indiana center Thomas Bryant with the 42nd pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft.
His last name may trigger some nostalgia for Laker fans. Although he has no relation to Kobe, let’s get to know the newest member of the purple and gold.
Thomas Bryant was a five-star recruit. He committed two full seasons to Indiana before declaring for the NBA Draft. As a freshman, he shot 68% from the field while averaging 11.9 points and 5.8 rebounds per game as a key piece of a Big Ten Championship team.
In his second season, Bryant improved his scoring and rebounding output, while shooting a respectable 38% from three. The Hoosiers had a disappointing season, as they were eliminated by Georgia Tech in the first round of the NIT.
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Thomas Bryant’s strengths lie in his ability to use his size. He stands 6’10” with a 7’6″ wingspan, and does an excellent job of establishing his position in the post. What most likely intrigued the Lakers about Bryant was his ability to shoot the three, which allowed the Hoosiers to spread the floor throughout his time in school.
While Bryant possesses tremendous upside in regards to his size and physicality, he lacks a diverse post game and his left hand emerged as a weakness during his sophomore season. Bryant plays the game with unrivaled passion and energy, which can sometimes translate to negative body language.
With the selection of the Hoosier center, the Lakers frontcourt depth chart gets crowded. Newly acquired Brook Lopez is a lock to start at center, with Ivica Zubac in line to serve as his backup. Thomas Bryant could challenge Zubac for minutes by proving his value with his three-point shooting.
Bryant could benefit from a season with the South Bay Lakers. He’ll need to further develop his post game and adapt to the speed of the NBA game.
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The physical tools are present, but he’ll have to evolve into a true stretch five if he wants a spot in LA’s rotation.