Lakers rookie Cameron Carr to get first real minutes Monday
With Austin Reaves and Quentin Grimes out, the 21-year-old wing will see action against the Hawks.
By Harper Foster ·
Lakers rookie Cameron Carr will play his first rotational minutes of the season against the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night. This marks the first time the 21-year-old wing will impact the game outside of the final minutes of a contest. He had previously seen action only in the closing stretches of his first two NBA appearances.
The Lakers (9-2) selected Carr as the No. 24 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft through a trade with the New York Knicks. He arrives in Atlanta after a strong G League opener last week for the Coachella Valley Lakers. In a 104-98 win over the Salt Lake City Stars, Carr scored 13 points in 20 minutes. His availability is timely as the team deals with the absence of Austin Reaves, who is out due to illness, and Quentin Grimes, who is dealing with a right finger sprain.
Coach JJ Redick stated that Carr has the potential to improve his defensive game through consistent reps. "There’s always room to grow as a player," Redick said. "For Cam, that growth is going to come on the defensive end. He’ll get comfortable just through reps and minutes within our offense, and he’s incredibly skilled." Redick noted that the G League schedule allows young players to work on skills that previously required dedicated practice time in the old NBA format.
Carr’s college career at Baylor saw him average 18.9 points per game last season. He shot 49.4% from the field and 37.4% from three-point range. During the NBA Summer League and the California Classic, he averaged 17.4 points on 42.3% shooting across seven games. Redick described Monday’s game as a chance for Carr to learn and grow, promising a film review and more reps following the game.
Second-year wing Adou Thiero, who also spent time in the G League last season, offered advice on handling limited playing time. "Just when my time came, I’m gonna make the most of it," Thiero said. "But until then, I’m gonna sit on the side and cheer on my teammates." He emphasized that effort and hustle are key during early rotational stints.
The Lakers also announced that Luka Doncic has been named Western Conference Player of the Week. The Slovenian star averaged 45 points on 52.5% shooting over three recent victories. He also contributed 7.0 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game. Doncic scored at least 40 points in each of those games, finishing the stretch with a 53-point performance against the Portland Trail Blazers. This is his 20th weekly honor in his career and his fifth as a Laker.
Grimes suffered his finger injury during Sunday’s win over the Detroit Pistons. He played 32 minutes in that game, finishing with 12 points on 4-for-12 shooting. Redick said X-rays were negative and that the issue is swelling. He does not expect Grimes to be out for more than a game or two. Grimes is averaging 8 points per game on 43.1% shooting in his first season of a four-year, $60 million contract.
