Lakers forward LJ Figueroa made a very loud case to earn an NBA roster spot during a Summer League game against the Grizzlies on Friday night. The 6-foot-6 former Oregon star threw down one of the nastiest dunks you’ll see on the court.
Figueroa’s big moment came late in the third quarter, when he cleaned up a miss by Cole Swider. The former Duck soared over Memphis’ GG Jackson and threw down a one-handed slam. The reaction from Figueroa and the bench was priceless … though Los Angeles still trailed by 22 points at the time.
Below is Figueroa’s big moment from Friday night’s Summer League contest:
Those aren’t the type of plays you often expect to see in Summer League hoops. But when you’re trying to earn a spot on an NBA roster, you have to put on a strong show. Figueroa did exactly that.
Figueroa had a strong night for the Lakers on Friday. He finished the game with 15 points on seven-of-10 shooting. He also collected five rebounds and dished out two assists. Memphis still won the game 100-69.
Figueroa went undrafted in 2021 and has had stops in the G League with the Santa Cruz Warriors and the South Bay Lakers in the last two seasons. One dunk probably won’t be enough to land on an NBA roster, but if he shows that kind of upside in Summer League, perhaps he’ll get a chance for the 2023-24 season.
Brandon Miller throws down vicious dunk in NBA Summer League
We’ve witnessed a handful of great moments during the NBA Summer League this year. A few days before Figueroa’s authoritative slam, former Alabama star and Hornets’ first-round pick Brandon Miller threw down a vicious dunk.
In a Summer League game against the Trail Blazers, Miller beat his man off the dribble then threw down a ferocious dunk. It was a major moment for the No. 2 overall selection in the 2023 NBA Draft.
That dunk will give fans in Charlotte a lot of hope and optimism about the future.
Miller had an outstanding season at Alabama in 2023, earning All-American honors and was named the SEC Player of the Year. He averaged 18.8 points and 8.2 rebounds for the Crimson Tide while playing in 37 games. The freshman star also shot better than 38% from behind the 3-point line.
Summer League is obviously much different than the NBA regular season. But if Miller is also showing that kind of potential, fans in Charlotte have plenty of reasons for excitement.
More must-reads: