Devin Ebanks was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 43rd pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. Ebanks spent two seasons with the Mountaineers, and he was an essentially proponent to their offensive system. However, it was not an enormous surprise that Ebanks did not get a lot of playing time, as he was a young rookie on a team full of veterans. As the Lakers were looking to win the championship for the third straight year Ebanks’ job was to sit and learn from the veterans and prepare for the future.
In his first season with the Los Angeles Lakers, Ebanks appeared in only 20 regular season games and averaged 5.8 minutes per game. Although he rarely stepped onto the court, Ebanks showed some bright spots for the coaching staff and fans. In his minimal playing time, Ebanks gave a glimpse of his athletic ability and impressive ball speed.
In the 2010-2011 NBA season, Devin Ebanks averaged 3.1 points per game and 1.4 rebounds per game while shooting 41% from the field. To add further tribulations to his rookie season, Ebanks faced a serious injury in his left leg due to a stress fracture. The injury halted his training, and it thwarted his ability to learn valuable on-court lessons from Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher.
However, perhaps the zenith of Ebanks’ rookie season came when he was assigned to the NBA Developmental League. Although life in the NBA compared to the D-League is like comparing night and day, Ebanks actually experienced playing time. The competition was obviously not as great as in the NBA, but Devin Ebanks honed his skills in the minors.
Grade: D
Devin Ebanks did not do much for the Los Angeles Lakers this season, but if he works toward developing his abilities, he may soon become apart of the Lakers’ rotation.
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