Preseason:By the Numbers
It's important to keep preseason games in perspective. While they can give us a glimpse of how a team might perform in the regular season, the stats we see are more like "suggestions" rather than definitive indicators. Preseason comes with a lot of variability—teams are experimenting with lineups, players are working on conditioning, and coaching strategies are still being fine-tuned. So, while we can take a broad, 50,000-foot view of the data to spot early patterns and potential weaknesses, it’s crucial not to read too much into it.
It's also worth noting that while stats can provide useful insights, they need to be paired with what you see on the court to get the full picture. Numbers can only tell part of the story—they show outcomes, but not necessarily the details of how those outcomes were achieved. For instance, a player's shooting percentage might be high, but that doesn't account for the quality of shots they're taking or the defensive pressure they're facing. Similarly, a team's assist numbers might look great, but without understanding the pace and style of play, those stats might not mean much. Still, in some cases, stats can serve as reasonable "apples-to-apples" comparisons to help explain performance across similar situations.
Sorry about the length... It's pretty much a walk across the stats pages.
Note: If you don't want to run through the stat columns and skip to the analysis, scroll to the bottom.
Points -
1. Player......................PTS
2. Anthony Davis........21.8
3. Dalton Knecht........18.0
4. Austin Reaves.........14.0
5. Rui Hachimura........12.8
6. LeBron James..........12.0
7. D'Angelo Russell......9.8
A couple of notable exceptions stand out in the preseason stats. Dalton's numbers are high, mainly due to increased usage and extended minutes, likely because the team wants to see more of him in different situations. This context is key when interpreting his performance.
Meanwhile, D'Angelo Russell's stats are unexpectedly low, almost puzzlingly so. Given his role, this drop raises questions. It could be due to limited minutes, adjustments in the offense, or just a rough patch. While preseason stats aren't always predictive, it's worth monitoring to see if this trend continues into the regular season.
3pt Shooting-
Player............................3PA........3P%........2023/2024
1. Gabe Vincent........3.2........37.5...........0
2. Dalton Knecht........10........36..............39.3
3. Rui Hachimura........3.5.......35.7..........42.2
4. Max Christie...........4...........30.............35.6
5. Anthony Davis........4.3........29.4..........27.1
6. Maxwell Lewis........0.8........25.............11.1
7. D'Angelo Russell.....5..........24.............41.5
8. Cam Reddish.........2.6........23.1..........33.6
9. Austin Reaves........5.5........22.7..........36.7
10. J Hood-Schifino......1.7.......10.............13.3
11. Bronny James..........2..........8.3............26.7
12. Jaxson Hayes............0........0.................0
Overall, most players' stats are about 10% lower than last season, which can be chalked up to typical preseason
noise. It's not unusual for numbers to dip a bit as teams and players work out the kinks before the regular season begins.
Dalton is shooting close to his college average, which is a promising sign that his transition to the NBA might be smoother than expected. Vincent is already shooting "as expected," showing consistency heading into the season.
While there's been praise for Davis' shooting, it's worth noting (with a bit of humor) that he's actually performing better than he did last season.
D'Angelo Russell, however, remains a bit of a mystery. His stats are noticeably off, and while it's too early to draw
conclusions, it's something to keep an eye on as the season progresses.
Rebounds:
Player.........................OREB.....DREB........REB........2023/2024
1. Anthony Davis........1.5........8..............9.5........12.6
2. Rui Hachimura........1...........6...............7............4.3
3. Jaxson Hayes........2.3........3.7..............6…….......3
4. LeBron James........0.3........4..............4.3............7.3
5. Armel Traoré..........1.3........3.............4.3…………n/a
6. Dalton Knecht........1.6........2.6.........4.2…………n/a
The most notable preseason trend is the uptick in performance from both Rui Hachimura and Jaxson Hayes. It seems that J.J. Redick's emphasis on finding advantages in the "margins" is resonating with them. Rui has been more aggressive on the boards, which is exactly what he needs to do, given his athleticism and height. If he can consistently bring that level of effort, it will make a noticeable difference for the team. Hayes, meanwhile, appears to have made significant strides in his game during the offseason. His boost in offensive rebounding is particularly impressive, sitting above league average—a promising sign, even if it's just preseason.
Special mention goes to Traoré and Knecht.
Knecht has been a standout, filling the stat sheet in all the right areas. From a statistical perspective, he's doing the small things that make him a valuable asset on the court, and that kind ofversatility can really set him apart. Kudos to his previous coaches for honing his fundamentals; their work is clearlypaying off, and it bodes well for his role this season.
Assists -
Player...........................AST........2023/2024...|...............TOV........2023/204
1. DRussell..................5.............6.3..................|................1.6.............2.10
2. JHS……...................3.8.............0.4................|................2.2.............0.40
3. GVincent.................1.............1.9..................|..................1.............0.50
D'Angelo Russell's preseason stats are roughly in line with his 2023/24 averages, especially considering a slight
reduction in minutes. This consistency is a positive sign, showing that his game remains steady even with the
preseason adjustments.
Jalen Hood-Schifino, on the other hand, has struggled with scoring, but he's starting to show real promise as a playmaker. If he were given about 5 more minutes per game to match DLo's playing time, his assist totals would likely
be on par. It's also worth noting that JHS hasn't had the benefit of playing alongside the same caliber of teammates,
which makes his assist numbers even more impressive. His ability to facilitate and create opportunities in less-than ideal conditions suggests real potential for growth as he gets more comfortable and finds his role within the team's rotation.
Steals:
Player....................STL........2023/2024
1. Dalton Knecht........1.4........#N/A
2. Austin Reaves........1.3........0.8
3. Anthony Davis........1........1.2
4. Rui Hachimura........1........0.6
5. Cam Reddish...........1........1
6. D'Angelo Russell....0.8........0.9
7. Jaxson Hayes........0.7........0.5
8. Max Christie...........0.6........0.3
The two standout trends from the preseason are Dalton's performance and the overall improvement across the roster compared to last season. Dalton continues to make a noticeable impact, showing consistency and potential that could translate well into the regular season. Quietly, Hayes seems to be taking that veteran leap, showing growth and a more refined game. His play suggests a newfound maturity and focus that is helping him contribute more effectively, especially in areas like rebounding and defense. Meanwhile, Hachimura has been creating more impactful stats, hinting at a more focused and aggressive approach. If he can maintain this trajectory, he could play a crucial role in the team's success by consistently leveraging his physical attributes to make a difference on both ends of the floor.
ADVANCED STATS -
OFF Rating:
Offensive net rating measures how many points a team scores per 100 possessions. It indicates offensive efficiency,
with a higher rating showing better conversion of possessions into points, reflecting effective ball movement and
shooting.
PLAYER...................OFFRTG
1. D'Angelo Russell........ 110.6
2. Anthony Davis........ 110.0
3. Austin Reaves........ 109.7
4. LeBron James........ 104.0
5. Max Christie........ 103.2
6. Dalton Knecht........ 101.3
7. Rui Hachimura........ 98.6
8. Jaxson Hayes........ 98.0
9. Gabe Vincent........ 97.5
10. Armel Traoré........ 97.4
11. Quincy Olivari........ 94.6
12. Cam Reddish........ 94.5
13. Jalen Hood-Schifino........ 92.9
14. Bronny James........ 88.9
15. Maxwell Lewis........ 76.8
Interesting...D'Angelo Russell's reduced shot volume, paired with his playmaking, seems to be benefiting the team overall. By focusing more on distributing and facilitating, he's fulfilling his role as a point guard effectively. On the other hand, Dalton's contributions have been minimal, bordering on what could be called "hollow buckets"—scoring that doesn't significantly impact the team's success. This is disappointing, especially given the hope for more consistency
from him.
Rui Hachimura and Gabe Vincent have also been underwhelming so far, falling short of expectations. Their lack of scoring punch has contributed to the team's struggles, particularly when combined with the anemic offensive output from both Jalen Hood-Schifino and Bronny. For Max, the outlook is even more concerning. His stats are so low across the board that, after two seasons, he's at risk of being cut and could potentially find himself out of the league within a year if things don't improve.
DEF Rating:
Defensive rating (DEF Rating) measures how many points a team allows per 100 possessions, with a lower number indicating better defense. Essentially, it reflects the points an opponent would score in a standard 100-possession game. Last season, the league average DEF Rating was around 112, so anything below that suggests above-average defensive performance.
It's important to note that DEF Rating can be situational, as it also depends on the team's overall defense. For example, if you and I were on an All-Star Defensive team, simply being on the floor with great defenders would boost our rating, even if we didn't contribute much. Conversely, players on second-string units might have ratings affected by the defensive strength of their squad. Still, at its core, the principle remains: lower DEF Ratings are better.
PLAYER........DEFRTG
1. Rui Hachimura........ 101.5
2. Anthony Davis........ 104.6
3. LeBron James........ 104.9
4. Austin Reaves........ 105.2
5. D'Angelo Russell........ 106.6
6. Quincy Olivari........ 108.7
7. Max Christie........ 111.2
8. Dalton Knecht........ 111.9
9. Colin Castleton........ 112.7
10. Gabe Vincent........ 113.2
11. Jaxson Hayes........ 113.8
12. Jalen Hood-Schifino........ 117.7
13. Bronny James........ 118.4
14. Maxwell Lewis........ 118.9
15. Cam Reddish........ 119.0
Hachimura's defensive rating a bit off, especially considering he's not on the same level defensively as Anthony Davis. What stands out more is the improvement and positive impact from D'Angelo Russell, who seems to be stepping up on that end of the floor. Max, Knecht, and Vincent appear to be hovering around "average" in their defensive contributions, which is solid but not remarkable.
The most surprising stat has to be Cam Reddish’s defensive rating. If the numbers are true, it's bad.... wowzers bad.
True Shooting %
True Shooting Percentage (TS%) gives a measure of a player's scoring efficiency, taking into account field goals, three-pointers, and free throws. The league average usually sits around 55%, and while it can be slightly skewed by position (with centers and power forwards often having higher percentages due to easier shots like dunks and put-backs), it's a useful benchmark. For this stat, anyone above 55% is scoring efficiently, while those below it might need to improve their shooting accuracy.
PLAYER........TS%
1. Dalton Knecht........ 59.0
2. Anthony Davis........ 58.5
3. Rui Hachimura........ 57.8
4. Austin Reaves........ 55.5
5. Gabe Vincent........ 55.4
6. Jaxson Hayes........ 55.0
7. LeBron James........ 54.0
8. Max Christie........ 53.3
9. Maxwell Lewis........ 47.9
10. Armel Traoré........ 46.7
11. D'Angelo Russell........ 45.2
12. Cam Reddish........ 33.7
13. Bronny James........ 32.2
14. Jalen Hood-Schifino........ 31.2
Knecht leading in True Shooting Percentage is impressive, especially for a rookie. It highlights how NBA-ready he is
and suggests he's adjusting well to the pace and style of the league. The two standout cases, however, are D'Angelo Russell and Cam Reddish. Both of them are underperforming expectations, making them worth watching as the season progresses.
Overall, most players are shooting around the league average, so there aren’t many major concerns right now, except
for Dalton. His efficiency remains a question mark, as he’s not hitting the benchmarks expected. On a positive note, it's
encouraging to see Jaxson Hayes finally reaching league-average TS%, but given his position as a center, he should
ideally be about 5 percentage points higher. There’s still room for improvement there, especially when it comes to
converting easy opportunities near the rim.
Usage %
In an NBA game, there are roughly 100 possessions, and players' usage rates reflect how much of the offense runs
through them. For example, both Anthony Davis and LeBron James average about 30% usage, meaning they account
for 30% of the team's touches. The effectiveness of a player's usage is key. Davis, for instance, not only has a high
usage rate but also converts those touches into a high field goal percentage and consistent scoring, making him
efficient.
On the other hand, a player like Kuzma might score 20 points but need 25 touches to get there, which is why his
scoring can be seen as "inefficient" or "hollow buckets." This is where points-per-shot averages become crucial.
Across the league, the average points per shot is around 0.78, with three-pointers averaging about 1.18 points per
shot. Without diving into complex stats, it's easy to estimate that Davis and James score around 1.0 points per shot,
showing high efficiency. By contrast, a player like Bronny, who might be closer to 0.5 points per shot, is far less efficient.
The comparison is straightforward: Davis at 1.0 points per shot is significantly better than Bronny at half a point per
attempt, highlighting why efficiency is so critical in evaluating a player's true impact on the game.
PLAYER........USG%
1. Anthony Davis........ 30.8
2. LeBron James........ 29.8
3. Dalton Knecht........ 25.4
4. Quincy Olivari........ 23.7
5. Austin Reaves........ 23.2
6. Rui Hachimura........ 20.3
7. D'Angelo Russell........ 19.9
8. Jalen Hood-Schifino........ 19.2
9. Bronny James........ 18.7
10. Gabe Vincent........ 18.6
11. Armel Traoré........ 15.6
12. Max Christie........ 15.3
13. Cam Reddish........ 13.0
14. Maxwell Lewis........ 12.8
15. Jaxson Hayes........ 11.9
Overall, there isn't much that stands out significantly in the usage stats. Knecht and Reaves are slightly above average, but nothing extraordinary. Bronny's usage rate of 18.7% combined with a 4.2 point average highlights his struggles with scoring efficiency. It's an area that could use improvement, as his current output doesn’t quite justify his usage rate.
One interesting trend is D'Angelo Russell’s decreased usage rate. While his scoring is also down, his overall impact on the game has improved, as evidenced by a higher offensive rating. This suggests that, despite taking on a smaller scoring role, he's finding ways to contribute more efficiently and effectively, likely through improved playmaking and smarter shot selection. It’s a promising sign that he’s adapting his game to benefit the team in other ways.
WHAT IT ALL MEANS - ANALYSIS SUMMARY
Davis: Anthony Davis is back to being as disruptive and impactful as he was last season. Despite the buzz around his increased three-point attempts, it's more a reflection of the system than a real improvement in his shooting. While it might have some strategic benefits, it’s not the game-changer some might think.
LeBron: LeBron James remains consistent with what you’d expect, but it’s tough to draw too many conclusions from his preseason stats. He played sporadically and often with a more relaxed approach, so it’s best to wait for the regular season to see his true form.
DLo: Initially, it seemed D'Angelo Russell was in a shooting slump, but it looks more like a strategic shift. He’s taking fewer shots, and it’s actually benefiting the team. His improved offensive rating suggests he’s being more selective, using his shooting primarily as a spacing tool while focusing on playmaking. This makes him more effective as a point guard.
Reaves: Austin Reaves is essentially the same player as last season. The eye test confirms this—nothing really stands out as different. If anything, his three-point shooting looks a bit off, but considering he’s not known for elite shooting in that category, it’s not surprising.
Hachimura: There was hope that Hachimura would show a boost in scoring after his strong performances in the Olympics, but his preseason stats suggest otherwise. It’s a bit disappointing, as it seems he hasn't progressed much offensively. However, he has improved in other areas, fitting well into his role as a glue guy and power forward. The hope of him being a future replacement for LeBron might be a stretch at this point.
Vincent: The eye test suggests Gabe Vincent is fully recovered and should be the player the Lakers signed for, but his preseason stats are underwhelming. It’s possible he performs better in specific situations or against second-string matchups, which may explain the gap between expectations and reality.
Hayes: Statistically, Jaxson Hayes seems to be taking a step forward, but moving from a fringe player to a reliable second-string option isn't a major leap. The coaching staff appears to be using him effectively, and he’s looked good playing alongside Davis. His minutes might be limited, with Christian Wood likely taking up significant playing time, but 12 minutes could be the sweet spot for Hayes to contribute without becoming a liability.
Reddish: Cam Reddish has been decent on defense, but his offense has been disappointing. At one time, he was a reliable, if streaky, second-string scorer who could heat up and carry the bench. If his offensive struggles continue, he may not last in the league beyond this season.
Young Guys:
Dalton Knecht: Knecht’s performance has been impressive. Despite being new to the league, his stats are already comparable to those of a slightly above-average veteran. He’s the kind of player you hope to get when drafting a 23-year-old with several years of college experience.
Max Christie: There’s been nothing, either from the eye test or the stats, to justify any hype around Max Christie. His numbers align with a typical third-year player who is still developing, but he remains a statistical negative. This highlights why young players often have shorter minutes and less freedom. Christie can contribute this season, but Coach Redick will need to be careful about managing his minutes to avoid letting him negatively impact the team’s performance.
JHS: Jalen Hood-Schifino has yet to show the scoring ability he demonstrated with the South Bay Lakers, and his current stats are poor. That said, his playmaking has been impressive, and in terms of point guard skills, he’s giving DLo a run for his money. Although his scoring and defense need improvement, his G-League numbers suggest he has the potential. If Redick can refine his skills and get them to translate on the court, JHS could emerge as a solid contributor.
Bronny: After his brief appearance in Game 1, it would be best for Bronny James to develop in the G-League before stepping back onto the Lakers' court. His game is still unpolished, and he needs time to grow away from the hype. Giving him space to develop could allow him to reach his potential.
Max Lewis: It’s surprising how little progress Max Lewis has made. His current performance is what you’d expect from a rookie at the end of their first season, not a third-year player. Unfortunately, it’s hard to see a future for him in the NBA if he doesn’t show significant growth soon.
Olivari and Traore: The scouting team clearly saw potential in Olivari and Traore, as their stats reflect why they were picked up. Now, it’s on them to prove themselves in the G-League and make a case for an NBA spot.
Overall I didn't spot much alarming. Some things are interesting, but there don't seem to be much fundamentally different in terms of their usage and performance. We see growth. And we see changes Reddick and his coaches are instilling, but overall nothing is anomalous.
All stats from NBA.com (10/20/2024)