One of the more underrated aspects of the NBA is how the league has made the dreams of countless men come true.
Not only do they get to live out their aspiration of playing pro ball, but they also become rich and are thus able to bless their families in many ways.
A rookie’s first NBA game is a seminal event that they will never forget, and that was certainly the case for Cole Swider on Monday night.
He went unselected in June’s draft, but the Los Angeles Lakers swooped him up as an undrafted free agent.
The 6-foot-9 forward was on cloud nine for his first NBA game on Monday.
“It was amazing. It’s a dream come true,” Swider said after the game on his debut. “Obviously, like LeBron (James) on the sideline, didn’t get to play with him tonight, but just LeBron on the sideline. Being in Crypto was amazing. Obviously, I had parents, my dad and my grandfather in the crowd, that was special too.”
With the team badly needing accurate 3-point shooting, as well as functional depth at the power forward position, Swider could get some meaningful playing time this season.
He went 2-of-4 from downtown on Monday and finished with 10 points in just 19 minutes.
How well he holds his own defensively and on the boards will likely be a large factor in how much playing time head coach Darvin Ham gives him once the regular season starts.
