Smith Jr. explains what it takes to succeed at the NBA level after standout game against the Kings.
The Los Angeles Lakers needed someone to step up with Austin Reaves sidelined, and Nick Smith Jr. answered the call in a big way.
The 21-year-old guard finished with 21 points off the bench in Sunday night's 125-101 blowout victory over the Sacramento Kings at Crypto.com Arena, proving that he belongs at this level.
Nick Smith Jr. Shares His Mindset
After the game, Smith Jr. made it clear what drives his play at the highest level.
"In this league, you gotta have confidence," Smith Jr. said. "If you don't, they're gonna go out there and see it right away. I feel like I can hoop with the best of them."
Smith Jr. shot 8-of-14 from the field and knocked down five three-pointers in the victory, which snapped a three-game losing streak for the Lakers (20-10).
He started the game on fire by hitting seven straight shots and scored 18 points in roughly 10 minutes, giving Los Angeles the spark it needed coming off a rough Christmas Day loss to the Houston Rockets.
The former first-round pick has been waiting for his chance since joining the Lakers on a two-way contract back in September after being waived by the Charlotte Hornets.
He is averaging 7.6 points per game this season while shooting 41.0 percent from three-point range, but his upside has been clear in the games where he gets extended minutes.
Lakers Roll Past Struggling Kings
Luka Dončić led the way with 34 points on the night, while LeBron James added 24 points.
The duo combined with Smith Jr.'s bench production to help the Lakers build a 68-53 halftime lead that Sacramento never threatened.
DeMar DeRozan scored 22 points for the Kings (8-24), who have now won consecutive games just once all season.
Sacramento was also missing key starters Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray, and Zach LaVine due to injuries, making it tough to keep pace with the Lakers' offensive attack.
Los Angeles dominated from the second quarter onward after holding a team meeting and a rare Sunday morning shootaround following the embarrassing loss to Houston on Christmas.
What's Next for Smith Jr. and the Lakers
With Reaves expected to miss at least a month due to a calf injury, Smith Jr. is in line to see a lot more playing time going forward.
Head coach JJ Redick has praised Smith's aggressive mindset, and the coaching staff has shown trust in the young guard to handle bigger moments.
"For someone his age, he's been in a lot of NBA games, so this isn't new," Redick said. "That's why we wanted him on the Lakers and part of our program—we knew he could score."
Smith Jr. also had a breakout 25-point game in a November win over the Portland Trail Blazers, which showed what he can do when given the opportunity.
The Lakers will look to keep rolling when they host the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night.