The Lakers are giving Lawson Lovering a straightforward job description, and the new center sounds more than willing to accept it.
At seven feet and 245 pounds, Lovering arrives on a two-way deal after Los Angeles waived forward AK Okereke to create the opening. For a team looking for size behind Walker Kessler, the path to minutes is clear enough: make possessions easier for everyone else.
Speaking with Benjamin Royer of the Southern California News Group, Lovering described the role in plain terms.
“I just think I can bring elite size, my feel for the game. I think defensively and rebounding, I can show up and set hard screens, get guys open. Being a dirty work guy, I’m a two-way guy - so not expected to have a huge role, which I never really thought I was going to - but just do dirty work and do the things that I’m asked to do every day.”
“So just do what the coaches say and live with the rest, man. Just compete as hard as I can.”
That mindset fits what the Lakers are asking for. A hard screen that opens a lane for Luka Doncic, a rebound that shuts down a possession, a simple finish at the rim - those are the kinds of plays that could keep Lovering on the floor for short stretches.
His brief NBA sample came with the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2025-26 season, when he appeared in two games and started one. He averaged 7.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 24.6 minutes while shooting 60.0% from the field. His top performance came against the Utah Jazz, when he posted 11 points, 11 rebounds and three assists.
Most of his pro work has come in the G League with the Memphis Hustle. Over 30 appearances, including 26 starts, he put up 7.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.3 blocks in 27.1 minutes, shooting 59.2% from the field.
Lovering also brings a solid college résumé. He spent two seasons at Colorado and two at Utah, playing in 118 games with 86 starts.
Over that stretch, he averaged 5.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 19.8 minutes. His best scoring season came as a Utah senior, when he averaged 8.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists.
The passing is part of what makes him interesting. If a screen for Doncic draws extra attention, the next decision matters: roll and finish, or make the extra pass. Defensively, the test is just as direct - can he stay connected when opponents drag him away from the paint?
For JJ Redick, Lovering adds another big-body option behind Kessler and Kevon Looney. Two NBA games in Memphis don’t tell the whole story, but South Bay could give him the runway to show more.
For now, the assignment is simple. Set the screen.
Hold your ground. Clean up the miss.
That’s the work the Lakers signed him to do.
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