LAS VEGAS — It’s been about 25 minutes since the ball stopped bouncing inside Thomas & Mack Center late Saturday night.
The sound has been replaced with the chatter of reporters outside the Los Angeles Lakers’ locker room. Head coach Lindsey Harding already finished her media availability after a Las Vegas Summer League win over New Orleans, but the scrum hasn’t yet dispersed.
It’s still waiting on Darius Bazley, who gets a pass for the hold up. He finally limps over to the group with a now-heavily-wrapped right ankle, which he twisted during the fourth quarter. Even that couldn’t stop him from finishing the game and recording 12 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks.
Bazley is soft-spoken as he answers questions, but his message resonates. It’s clear the thin-framed forward, now 25, is starved for a return to the NBA. It’s at the forefront of the former OKC Thunder first-rounder’s mind after spending last season with the Chinese Basketball Association’s Guangdong Southern Tigers.
“I’m on a mission,” Bazley said Saturday. “I’m trying to revamp my career, get back and just prove that I belong out there. That I can help a team win, contribute to winning. … I’m just trying to prove it every night.”
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Bazley was proving that this summer, but his journey back to the league hit an unfortunate road block Thursday night.
After snagging a rebound midway through the second quarter of a game against Boston, Bazley raced up the floor and spun around a defender. He then planted his right foot and attempted to push off with it, but his leg gave out. An instant replay showed a pop near his calf before he collapsed.
This time, Bazley had no choice but to leave the court. The same one he was so determined to stay on Saturday night. And he had to leave it in a wheelchair.
An update on the leg injury hasn’t yet been announced, but the nature of it is an all-too-familiar sight in basketball. The NBA had seven known Achilles injuries this past season, surpassing the previous record of four. The most recent instance occurred during Game 7 of the NBA Finals when Tyrese Haliburton tore his Achilles tendon in a loss to OKC.
Bazley’s injury didn’t occur on as big a stage in the eyes of the general public, but it was big for him. It was a chance to showcase his skills after playing for four NBA teams, two G League affiliates and the CBA’s Southern Tigers, all in the past three years.
Bazley was making the most of that chance. He entered Thursday with averages of 12.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and two assists through six Summer League games. And he shined as a do-it-all defender with a 7-foot wingspan, great athleticism and good speed.
“Bazley is an amazing defender,” Harding said Saturday. “He can guard on ball. He can guard the point guard. He can guard the center. He does a great job off the ball. Sometimes defenders are great on ball and not off ball, and vice versa, but he can do everything for us.”
Bazley also impressed with his improved decision making.
He was only 19 when OKC selected him with the 23rd pick in the 2019 draft. And even though he towered over the average person, he had plenty of growing to do. It became increasingly difficult to overlook the unpolished pro’s ill-advised shots, erratic drives and sticky hands.
That surely played a role in OKC trading Bazley to Phoenix at the 2022-23 deadline in exchange for Dario Saric, a 2029 second-round pick and cash considerations. And it surely prevented him from finding a long-term landing spot as he fell out of the league.
But Bazley’s on-court odyssey allowed him to find his way as a player. He became more of an opportunistic scorer with the Lakers’ Summer League squad. One who cleaned up the glass for putback buckets, ran the floor for easy finishes and rolled to the rim for lobs. That helped him shoot 58.5% from the field.
“I think I’ve been taking strides in my shot and really just my growth as a player,” Bazley said Saturday. “I’m being a lot more decisive and just connecting more on offense, helping and plugging into (teammates).”
The odds were stacked against Bazley in Summer League.
Most players are competing for a two-way contract. But you must have fewer than four years of NBA experience to be eligible for that deal, and Bazley has five. That meant he’d have to sign a standard contract.
Still, Bazley bet on himself in the gambling capital of the country and was on a hot streak. Even if he didn’t land with the Lakers, who first needed to free up a roster spot, it seemed like some team would’ve given him a shot.
Unfortunately, Bazley might lose that chance if his injury is as severe as it looks. But he has gained the support of countless people in the basketball community, who wish him the best on his mission.
“Prayers for Darius Bazley, man,” one X user posted. “I hate to see that. Bro has been hooping this summer and was about to be back in the league.”
“Darius Bazley was having an incredible Summer League,” another X user posted. “This is so heartbreaking to see.”
Justin Martinez covers sports for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at jmartinez@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @Justintohoops. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Justin’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.