The D-Fenders, going for three wins in a row to start the season, took on Houston’s D-League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers on Thursday night in Lakers’ rookie Center Ivica Zubac‘s debut.
There is only one center listed on the D-Fenders roster, and that is 7-foot-3 David Foster out of Utah. Coach Coby Karl would have to work in newly assigned rookie center Ivica Zubac (pronounced i-vi-tsa zu–buts) into his rotation to beat Matt Brase‘s Vipers. Brase is the grandson of the Legendary NCAA Coach Lute Olson.
Fun Fact: Matt Brase played in college at Arizona with the D-Fenders assistant coach Isaiah Fox, and they both played on the same team with Channing Frye. He’s also a long time friend of Luke Walton, so it was a huge Arizona Wildcats reunion with all of them before the game.
Luke Walton sat court side with his two darling children and his wife. In addition to Walton, Zubac’s teammates came to support their rookie. D’Angelo Russell came in comfortable sweats and slippers, holding a Starbucks frappuccino with whipped cream, and sporting some stylish specs. Larry Nance also came by, and Spectrum caught him for an interview.
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The D-Fenders were playing like their life depended on it in the first half. Most of these players were all thought at one time to be good enough for the NBA, had played in the NBA, or at least played in Summer League or the Lakers training camp. The opportunity to show your skill, desire, and determination to be a pro couldn’t have been greater than the first half of this game. Not only did Mitch Kupchak show up, but there were about NBA five scouts in attendance also.
The D-Fenders jumped out in front, but the Vipers made some adjustments, and at the end of the first quarter, they were basically tied, Vipers ahead by on 31-30.
The Vipers roster includes former Laker Darius Morris, Houston Rocket Chinanu Onuaku, former Kentucky Wildcat Kyle Wiltjer and former Oregon State Beaver and son of Gary Payton, Gary Payton II. What a line up!
Here is the halftime show, taped alongside D’Angelo Russell who was shooting hoops chatting with Mitch Kupchak. Chris Rodriguez of Blue Collar Sports talks with Jeff Biggs of ESPNLA 710 Rams insider and then at the 17:00 mark, Lake Show Life Contributor Shereen Rayan:
Wiltjer is a scoring machine for the Vipers, by the end of the third quarter he had 23 points. The Vipers were ahead by about 12 points most of the game until Roscoe Smith (returning D-Fender from last season starting scoring and brought his team within eight points with 7:22 left in the game.
Coach Coby Karl put in all his veterans in the game to win, but the Vipers remained in the lead by about twelve and they couldn’t make a dent. Zubac fouled out with five minutes left. He converted 6-of-9 attempts for 13 points, grabbed three rebounds and block two shots in 23 minutes of play.
After the game, we got the rare opportunity to have a fun, relaxed and personal chat with not only Zubac but former Lakers legend A.C. Green got in the fun as well!
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