Drew Timme Makes the Most of His Moment in Lakers Loss to Trail Blazers
The Los Angeles Lakers were short-handed Saturday night, missing Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Deandre Ayton, and Jaxson Hayes in a 16-point loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. With four key rotation players sidelined, the Lakers struggled on the glass-outrebounded by 15-and couldn’t keep up with Portland’s energy. But even in a tough loss, there was a silver lining: Drew Timme made the most of his opportunity, and then some.
Timme, who signed a two-way contract with the Lakers back in November after a brief stint with the Brooklyn Nets, saw his first meaningful NBA minutes since April 30, 2025-and he made them count. The former Gonzaga standout dropped a career-high 21 points on an ultra-efficient 9-of-12 shooting, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. He added four assists, two steals, and logged 29 minutes of action in a performance that turned heads.
After the game, Timme was quick to credit his teammates for making life easier on the floor.
“It’s easy when you play with guys that just get you the ball in easy spots,” Timme said. “Wide open 3s, Smart and Bron were just passing in the pocket.
It was just easy. We were just playing basketball and it just happened to be me who got the shots early.
It’s great when guys like that will give you the ball when you’re open too, so it’s great team basketball.”
That kind of humility and team-first mentality is exactly what you want to hear from a young player trying to carve out a role. But make no mistake-this wasn’t just a feel-good story.
Timme looked comfortable, confident, and in rhythm. He moved well off the ball, made smart cuts, and showed a soft touch from deep.
For a player who’s been grinding in the G League, it was a statement performance.
Timme spoke about the importance of staying ready and how the South Bay Lakers-L.A.’s G League affiliate-have helped him stay sharp.
“I mean, obviously it’s great to see all the work you put in pay off,” he said. “And that’s the beauty of the G League.
Zach (Guthrie) and them at South Bay, they push me. That’s why I keep my skills fine-tuned, when or if I’m ever needed, I’m ready.
That’s the beauty of the G, it keeps me sharp for moments like these because you never know when your opportunity may or may not come and you have to be ready. Those guys help you a lot, just continuing to develop and do whatever is asked.
That’s part of the job.”
It’s the kind of mentality that fits perfectly with what the Lakers have built in recent years. Few teams in the league have been as successful at turning two-way players into real contributors. From Alex Caruso to Austin Reaves, the Lakers have developed a knack for finding diamonds in the rough-and Timme just might be next in line.
With Ayton and Hayes both dealing with injuries, Timme could see more minutes in the short term. And even when both bigs are available, he’s making a case to be part of the mix. As a third center option, Timme offers a different look-more finesse, more floor spacing, and a high basketball IQ that can keep the offense flowing.
Redick Urges Lakers to Stay the Course
The Lakers’ 2025-26 season has been anything but smooth sailing. At 24-16, they’re still in solid playoff position, but inconsistency has been a theme. They’ve dropped more games than they’ve won in recent weeks and have suffered 15 double-digit losses already this season.
Head coach JJ Redick isn’t ignoring the frustration, but he’s also not panicking. He’s urging his team to stay grounded and keep perspective through the ups and downs of an 82-game grind.
It’s a message that resonates, especially with a roster that’s been in flux due to injuries and lineup changes. The Lakers still have the talent and experience to make a push in the second half of the season-but staying level-headed, as Redick emphasized, will be key to unlocking that potential.
And if Drew Timme continues to take advantage of his chances, the Lakers might just have found another unexpected contributor to help steady the ship.