“I just want a job”- Lakers #41 Quincy Olivari pleads for NBA gig after outperforming Lakers’ G League probables including Bronny James
LA Lakers Exhibit 10 player Quincy Olivari concluded his preseason with an impressive performance, scoring a game-high 22 points and grabbing seven rebounds in his team's preseason finale, which ended in a disheartening 132-74 defeat.
Although Olivari made a name for himself during the preseason, his future in the league remains uncertain due to his Exhibit 10 contract, which is a one-year minimum salary deal.
If waived, Quincy Olivari could still join the Lakers' G-League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers. However, he expressed his desire for a spot in the NBA after the Lakers' preseason finale.
“I just want a job in the NBA,” he said (per Dan Woike). "I honestly don’t know what’s next.”
In addition to his scoring, Quincy Olivari also recorded six rebounds and two steals while making five of nine attempts from 3-point range, despite committing six turnovers.
He outscored Bronny James, who had 17 markers, former Lakers first-round pick Jalen Hood-Schifino, who had six, and Cam Reddish who finished with six on 1-for-11 shooting.
Earlier in the preseason, Olivari had a standout game against the Bucks, scoring 11 points on 4-for-6 shooting from the field and 3-for-6 from beyond the arc in under 10 minutes of play.
After that performance, Lakers coach JJ Redick remarked:
"Quincy completely changed the game…picking up full court, being disruptive, taking time off the shot clock. I thought he executed exactly what we want from someone in his position.”
Quincy Olivari maximizes his preseason experience by learning from Lakers veterans
While his NBA career is not guaranteed, Quincy Olivari has made the most of his preseason time. He noted that he frequently seeks advice from team veterans, including Gabe Vincent, whose role he aspires to emulate in the league.
“I think the biggest thing every vet could say if they came in here is that I ask a lot of questions. I ask Gabe a lot of questions, whether about his time with the Heat, what it is like playing for Coach Spoelstra, what Jimmy Butler is like, what the Heat culture is like, and what it took for him to get to where he’s at,” Olivari said.
“So just always coming in here and asking questions, I mean, I have a lot of knowledge whether that’s LeBron, AD, AR, DLo or Gabe Vincent. It’s just so much knowledge that can be soaked up, and I try my best to take advantage of this opportunity.”
In addition to his offensive skills, Olivari has also displayed moments of relentless defense. Following his impressive preseason showing, it's interesting to see if the Lakers would offer him a two-way contract.