Lakers Rookie Cameron Carr Drops 26 in Summer League After Playing His First Overtime Game Since Middle School

The Lakers might have found something in Cameron Carr. The first-round pick went for 26 points and eight rebounds Sunday in a 93-91 Summer League win over the Heat at Chase Center in San Francisco. He shot 7-of-16 from the floor and knocked down four threes, including one from the Chase Center logo that had the bench on its feet.

Here’s the thing about Carr. He’s 19 years old and just played his first overtime game since middle school. The Lakers needed an extra five minutes to put Miami away, and Carr didn’t look rattled. He kept firing. He grabbed boards against bigger guys. He looked like a dude who belonged.

A shooter who can do more

Carr’s reputation coming out of Baylor was simple. He could shoot the hell out of the ball. His three-point stroke is smooth and quick. The arc is consistent. He shot it well in the Big 12 and that skill translated immediately in Summer League. But the surprises were the other stuff. The rebounding. The willingness to attack the paint when the defense closed out hard. He’s not just a standstill shooter. He’s got some face-up game and he’s not afraid of contact.

Two defenders closed fast on him early in the game. Didn’t matter. Carr let it fly anyway and splashed a deep three. That kind of confidence doesn’t show up in every rookie.

Carr and the Lakers survived overtime after a tight regulation. The Heat pushed them and it took a full team effort. But Carr’s 26 led all scorers. He played 32 minutes and didn’t look tired. The rookie has a ways to go. His handle can get tighter. His defense needs work. But the foundation is there.

JJ Redick has to be watching closely

Head coach JJ Redick knows shooting when he sees it. Carr’s ability to stretch the floor is exactly what the Lakers need around their stars. Redick hasn’t said much publicly about Carr’s Summer League run, but the tape speaks for itself. The kid can fill it up in a hurry.

The Baylor product entered the league as one of the top long-range threats in the draft class. He’s showing that label was earned. But he’s also showing he can score in more than one way. That’s the kind of versatility that gets a rookie real minutes.

Lakers fans are already buzzing. Summer League is a small sample size. It doesn’t mean everything. But Carr looks like he belongs. And for a team that needs shooting and energy off the bench, that’s not nothing.