Los Angeles Lakers: 2017-18 player grades for Brook Lopez

Strengths

Despite the perceived struggles and lesser numbers compared to his career, Brook Lopez’s strengths continued this season. He’s a classic low-post scorer who has extended his game to the perimeter, and this trend translated to Los Angeles with Lopez shooting 34.5 percent on 4.4 3-point attempts per game.

Those shooting numbers slightly dipped from his 2016-17 season with the Brooklyn Nets, but the threat opened the floor for his teammates to operate and get to the rim. His shooting numbers from inside the 3-point line were 54.9 percent, good for the second-highest mark of his career, although he only attempted 6.6 2-point field goals per game.

Lopez continued to be a strong interior defensive presence, averaging 1.3 blocks per game and being a vocal leader of the defense. His greatest impact in my opinion came with his leadership on and off the floor.

He’s used to being on struggling, youthful teams, so that experience helped keep this version of the Lakers focused on playing the right way and preparing well off the court. Lopez was often the first person off the bench high-fiving teammates and being supportive despite not playing as much as he wanted.