The second-biggest contract the Los Angeles Lakers gave out this offseason was to Quentin Grimes. They signed Luka Doncic’s former Dallas Mavericks teammate to a four-year, $60 million deal with a player option on the fourth year. They believe in his ability to re-create what he had in Dallas next to Doncic with providing quality two-way play.
Grimes will wear No. 5 for the Lakers, the same number he has worn the last two seasons with the Mavericks and the Philadelphia 76ers. He explained the reasoning behind that choice and why he brought it to the Lakers.
“I chose No. 5 because it was my number in high school,” Grimes said. “I had great games, career-highs, in high school. Had great times. And then I was able to get it once I got straight to Dallas, had even better times in the league with that number.”
Oftentimes, players choose the same number that they wore in their youth if it’s available to them. For some, like Grimes, it’s a reminder of the type of player they can be when playing their best basketball. Grimes wore No. 6 when he entered the league for the New York Knicks and switched to No. 24 when he left for the Detroit Pistons. Of course, neither of those numbers are available now that he’s on the Lakers.
Hopefully, while wearing No. 5, he can be the exact same positive piece he was next to Doncic, even though the two did not get to play a ton of games together. The pair played in 21 games — 228 minutes — on the court, but they were dominant in that short stint. They had an 11.1 net rating, the sixth-best of any two-man combo on the Mavericks that season with at least 100 minutes played.
Quentin Grimes: joining Lakers is full-circle moment
Grimes explained how his upbringing shaped him to love the Lakers and why it’s a big deal that he’s on the team now.
“My Dad grew up a Lakers fan,” Grimes said in an introductory interview. “He dressed me up as a baby as a little Laker. Took me to Lakers games, Kobe when they played the Rockets back in Houston. So it kind of a full-circle moment. He was super excited once we made that decision in free agency and was able to come here.”
“It means a lot to be a Laker,” Grimes added. “You can expect a do-it-all kind of guy. Scorer, defender, can make plays off the dribble. We have really good guys all-around with this team so I’m super excited to be here and get to work.”
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