Nick Van Exel recalls getting drafted by the Lakers after the Showtime Era: 'I didn't look at it in the big scope of things'

Nick Van Exel burst into the scene as a second-round pick at an odd time. The Los Angeles Lakers' glory days in the Showtime Era were over, so it was time to build something from scratch. The problem was that "Nick the Quick" came into the league with such a simple mindset that he failed to realize the gravity of what they were trying to achieve in Tinseltown.

"Honestly, when I got there, it was pressure from the media," Van Exel said on the Two Cents podcast with Penny Hardaway. "I don't care about the media and putting pressure on nobody. To me, I always thought pressure didn't exist. I didn't care about pressure. But they're always like, 'You're following Magic (Johnson).' I didn't think about that because I didn't look at it in the big scope of things. I wish I would have, but I didn't. My thing was like, 'We just gonna hoop. I'm just gonna hoop.'"

Nick came in as a second-round choice, so nobody could blame him if playing ball was his only goal. Most second-rounders are in survival mode as soon as they get into the Association, and all they want is an opportunity to showcase their talent. Van Exel got that chance and aimed to make the most of it without the weight of championship expectations. If the Wisconsin native had embraced the spotlight in LA a bit more, he might have unlocked another level during his time with the Lakers.

Nick appreciates his time in Los Angeles

Van Exel was a dynamo in his time with Cincinnati. He averaged 18.3 points, 4.5 assists, and 1.8 steals on below-average efficiency in his last year. That said, "Nick at Nite" never saw a shot he didn't like. He was one of the few who had no conscience as a gunner, as he unleashed eight threes a game in his last season with the Bearcats. To put that in perspective, Steph Curry is the all-time leader in three-point attempts per game at nine.

At the time, the Lakers roster needed some scoring spunk, and Nick fit the bill. Jerry West, the general manager, promised him a starting spot right away. He finished third in the team in scoring behind Vlade Divac and Anthony Peeler while leading LA in assists (5.8). Nonetheless, he greatly appreciated the help he got, not only from West but from Sedale Threatt. Threatt was then relegated to a backup role because of Van Exel, but he took the latter under his wing and showed him the ropes.

"I wasn't better than Sedale Threatt," the 1998 NBA All-Star admitted. "Sedale Threatt was, oh my God, he was right-handed, but going left, he was cash money. I wasn't better than him and I knew I wasn't better than him, but Jerry West was trying to change the guard, the changing of the guard."

"They gave me that opportunity and they just started me. To this day, I thank Sedale Threatt because "Threase" was a guy, who, he knows he's better than me. Everybody else knew he was better than me, but he never gave that assumption to me, like, I don't like you. He never gave that to me; he always helped me out… That was a blessing to me," added Van Exel.

Lights too bright?

Sooner or later, fans expect the Lakers to be in the thick of things, and the franchise did just that. Going into Nick's fourth season, West found a way to lure Shaquille O'Neal to Los Angeles and orchestrate a trade that brought Kobe Bryant to pair with the Big Diesel. From wallowing in mediocrity, the Lakers were back to being contenders once again.

Unfortunately, it just didn't pan out for the Purple and Gold, particularly for Van Exel. Nick was atrocious in the 1998 Conference Finals against the Jazz, averaging 9.0 points on a ghastly 24 percent shooting from the field. Making matters worse, "The Quick" came up with the "1, 2, 3… Cancun" punch line during the Lakers huddle as the team was facing a sweep. The word was that a few veterans, including O'Neal, didn't like Nick's tropical-themed joke and asked the front office to trade him. Needless to say, he was gone by the summer.

If Van Exel had embraced the Lakers' championship tradition and approached his role with a bit more urgency, his story in LA might have ended differently. Instead, his laid-back mindset clashed with the franchise's high expectations, ultimately leading to his exit.