By Pierre-Andréa Fraile | Sports journalist
Arriving on tiptoe in the NBA this summer, Armel Traoré played his first preseason match with the Lakers this Friday. Used only for 4 minutes by JJ Redick, he nevertheless made sure to shine… and even more than Bronny James.
It’s been almost four months since fans of NBA were waiting for this day with relative impatience. The pre-season matches finally kicked off this Friday. Not in the United States, but in Abu Dhabi, where two matches involving three league franchises took place early in the evening. A third also took place a little later, located in California.
Before facing them during Opening Night on October 22, the Lakers in fact welcomed the Timberwolves in Palm Desert in recent hours. A reception in which LeBron James and Anthony Davis did not take part, saved by JJ Redick, which allowed other less rated players to benefit from playing time. However, it is not Bronny James, very attendu, qui en a réellement profité pour se montrer.
Armel Traoré draws flattering comparisons with Bronny James
Despite 16 minutes played and 6 shots attempted, Bronny didn’t really shine against Minnesota. What attract mixed reactions from observers. On the other hand, Armel Traoré took advantage of the little playing time he was given. In just over 4 minutes on the field, sprinkled between the end of the 3rd quarter and the start of the 4th, the French winger managed to compile 5 points and 1 rebound.
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Better still, he demonstrated impeccable skill, highlighted by the American journalist from Canis Hoopus Charlie Walton :
Charlie Walton : The only players to display 100% marksmanship with more than one attempt on the first day of preseason:
– Donte DiVincenzo (4/4)
– Armel Traoré (2/2)
That’s all. The list ends there! ????
Holder of a two-way contract with the Lakers, Traoré knows that he will probably not have many opportunities to shine on the NBA floors this season. Le voir saisir de la sorte la première occasion qui lui a été donnée se veut toutefois de bon augure pour la suite. Les internautes fans des Purple & Gold n’ont d’ailleurs pas manqué de commenter sa performance… sans vraiment faire preuve de nuance :
@SixthManJake : INSTANT IMPACT FOR ARMEL TRAORÉ
@balleronthewall : Armel Traoré > Bronny James
@GoldenKnightGFX : Armel Traoré is the best French player I have seen in the NBA
@lebronisjesuss : Nah it’s real
@Hexiyyy : He might just be the best player in the NBA, period.
Little playing time? No problem for Armel Traoré, who signed a first successful performance in preseason with the Lakers. To see if this will allow him to step on the field more during the upcoming match against the Suns on Sunday.
