Meet the Newest Addition to the Los Angeles Lakers: Center Kylor Kelley
The Los Angeles Lakers have officially signed center Kylor Kelley to their roster. Kelley, standing at 7 feet tall and weighing 230 pounds, made appearances in 11 NBA games last season with the New Orleans Pelicans and Dallas Mavericks. During his time on the court, he averaged 3.1 points and 3.5 rebounds in just over 11 minutes of play. Notably, in his first NBA start with the Mavericks, Kelley achieved a double-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds, one assist, and one block.
Throughout his professional career, Kelley has played in 108 NBA G League games across four seasons with various teams, including the South Bay Lakers, Maine Celtics, Raptors 905, and Austin Spurs. His stats in the G League show an average of 8.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 2.0 blocks per game in about 20 minutes of play. Notably, with the South Bay Lakers, Kelley put up impressive numbers, averaging 11.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 2.4 blocks in nearly 27 minutes per game. His standout performance led to his selection to the 2024 NBA G League All-Defensive Team for leading the league in blocks per game.
In addition to his domestic league experience, Kelley has also played internationally in Canada, Denmark, and England. Before his professional career, Kelley played college basketball at Oregon State University for two seasons. During his senior year, he earned a spot on the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team for the second consecutive year. Kelley's senior season was particularly impressive, as he averaged 11.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks per game, leading the conference in blocks and ranking second nationally.
In conclusion, Kylor Kelley brings a wealth of experience and defensive prowess to the Los Angeles Lakers. His performance in the NBA and G League, as well as his collegiate achievements, highlight his potential impact on the team's roster. Lakers fans can look forward to seeing Kelley's shot-blocking abilities and contributions on both ends of the court in the upcoming season.