The Los Angeles Lakers have yet to finalize their starting small forward for the upcoming season opener against the Denver Nuggets next Tuesday. Anthony Davis has voiced his endorsement for Taurean Prince to earn the role.

 

Davis praised Prince’s performance during the preseason after Lakers’ practice on Tuesday. Despite fouling out of the preseason opener after just 13 minutes, the veteran 3-and-D specialist has excelled amidst the Lakers’ perimeter shooting exhibition. Prince, who signed a one-year, $4.5 million deal in July, has been a starter in each of the past four preseason games and has made 11 of his 20 attempts from beyond the arc.

 

“He’s a vet. True professional,” commented Davis regarding the 29-year-old Prince. “Shooting the basketball very well, in practice and games. Gets his work in. … defender. He’s been great making shots. I’m not sure who the starter is going to be, but I think he’s making a strong case for himself.”

 

Prince faces competition from Rui Hachimura and Jarred Vanderbilt for the starting position. Hachimura, the highest-paid among the three, offers a more extensive offensive skill set and size. Prince, a career 37.2% 3-point shooter, provides essential spacing around LeBron James and AD, in addition to quality wing defense. Vanderbilt is the most versatile and defensive-minded of the group, but he’s currently dealing with a sore left heel, which may cause him to miss the beginning of the regular season.

 

Coach Darvin Ham playfully deflected inquiries about the competition on Tuesday, stating, “I don’t know, we’ll see. Still got a few days for it to play out. We’ll see. Sometimes it’s circumstantial.” Ham had previously mentioned that he “definitely” knew who the starting small forward would be before the preseason opener, but it remains uncertain whether Prince had been his initial choice all along or if Vanderbilt’s injury influenced his decision.