Los Angeles Lakers: Power ranking the team’s top players after Week 1

3. Larry Nance Jr.

If it wasn’t for the fact that the Lakers need to get Julius Randle minutes too, Larry Nance Jr. may be higher on this list. The third-year pro has been a lightning rod for this Lakers team, although it’s a bit strange they seem to keep him on the bench when it comes down to crunch time.

Still, the damage he does when he’s on the court is undeniable. He’s cleaning the boards with ease, making heads-up plays on defense and using his athleticism and basketball IQ to create quality opportunities on offense. There’s a reason he’s the starter, and it’s not just because he’s a terrific dunker.

On top of all of that, I love how efficient he’s been from the field. While it makes sense considering most of his shots come from in close, Nance is connecting on 62.2 percent of his field goals. He also happens to be second on the team in rebounds (7.8) and steals (1.3) per game. Put simply, he’s getting it done in just about every aspect of the game.

Is there room for improvement? Of course. I’d love to see him make a few more plays on defense and up his rim protection a bit. As a whole, though, Nance has been a pleasant surprise in his new role as the starting power forward. It’s great to see him being more than just a high-flying dunk specialist.

If Randle continues to steal minutes from Nance, we could see him tumble down the rankings in the coming weeks. For now, he’s earned the right to sit comfortably at No. 3.