How rich these last twenty-four hours have been in emotions for Armel Traoré! Wednesday evening, the 21-year-old power forward delivered a historic match with the South Bay Lakers against the San Diego Clippers, “the best of his career” according to him, with 17 points and above all 22 rebounds, a record in the history of the G-League team. And on Thursday, he scored his first NBA basket against the Spurs of his friend Victor Wembanyama. Like a symbol…
“When I scored, he looked at me from the bench but I was focused because I had to come back in defense”he rewinds in the Angelinos locker room after a little workout session, at the microphone of Basket USA.
Two weeks ago, the two former Metropolitans 92 teammates and long-time friends already met on the floor of the Frost Bank Center. They had exchanged their jerseys at the end of the meeting but the old position 4 of ADA Blois did not come into play…
This time, the lack of suspense worked in its favor. “When I saw that we won by a lot, I said to myself that I might have my chance”he notes, affirming that this first basket in the NBA marks “the beginning of a great adventure”. “I came home, I was ready and the rest is history”.
Arrived just 4.5 hours before the Spurs match
This second match against the Spurs, Armel Traoré was not predestined to play it but the “coaching staff” of the Lakers, knowing his proximity to “Wemby”, decided to reward him following his XXL performance in the G-League and repatriate him to Texas at the last minute. Leaving Los Angeles at 7:00 a.m., he took a plane at dawn before arriving in San Antonio at 3:00 p.m. (Texas time), only 4.5 hours before the match. “There hasn’t been much rest time but I can’t complain”he smiles.
“When I scored my first points, my teammates were happy for me. D'Angelo Russell took the ball, he said to me: 'Take it home, you'll show it to your mother'”he adds. “They are all 'good vets' as they say in the United States. They give good advice and help me a lot, whether it's LeBron James, Anthony (Davis), and D'Angelo Russell. You couldn't ask for better for a rookie. »
If Armel Traoré is enjoying this moment so much, it is because the U20 European champion in the summer of 2023 has too often seen the train pass in front of him. Shunned by Sasa Obradovic upon his arrival at AS Monaco in December 2021 after being dubbed by Zvezdan Mitrovic, slowed down by a knee injury when he wanted to enter the 2023 Draft at the same time as Victor Wembanyama and Bilal Coulibaly at end of his season with the Mets 92… The planets took a while to align for him.
For JJ Redick, Armel Traoré is “an elite rebounder”
So, he left to look for responsibilities and playing time at ADA Blois in Betclic Élite. The bet paid off (10.8 points and 7.3 rebounds on average in 25 minutes): undrafted, he was offered a “two-way contract” by the Lakers, five minutes after the end of the second round. Playing on mishaps and missed opportunities, Nolan Traoré's big brother wants to ward off fate and despite a thumb injury throughout the preseason, he decides to play to convince the Californian staff to give him a chance.
Having become the 49th Frenchman to score a basket in the NBA, this Kobe Bryant fan seems to be appreciated within the Californian franchise, crowned NBA champion 17 times.
“He’s an elite rebounder and we think he can become a very physical defender as well. But what stands out most of all is how hard he has this ability to play.”adds his coach JJ Redick, explaining that his rookie was flashed at 30 kilometers per hour during the Pelicans match ten days ago. “He’s a guy we look forward to developing in our franchise.”
Covered by his new coach, the former Saint-Charles player Charenton, “capable of playing up to six matches in a week”will continue “without complaining” to move between the G-League and the NBA in the hope of “sign a guaranteed contract with the Lakers or elsewhere”.
Aware that he “is not (totally) master of [son] destin »he continues to work on his 3-point shot and ultimately wants to be able to defend against any player, from position 1 to 5. “What I can control is being punctual, positive, working hard and bringing good energy to the group”he concludes.
From our correspondent in San Antonio (United States),