Goodwin’s Secret Sauce: Winning Without Points…
LeBron James and Rui Hachimura were out shopping for new sneakers (or something), leaving Lakers coach JJ Redick scratching his head. Who should fill their mighty shoes? Easy peasy decision to pop in Dorian Finney-Smith. But for some razzle-dazzle, enter Jordan Goodwin, the two-way wizard who must’ve had a magic wand hidden in his jersey. Goodwin made the first basket and then vanished on the scoreboard. Nonetheless, the Lakers snapped their losing streak with a 107-96 win against the Phoenix Suns. Box score might say 2 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals, but peel back the layers and you’ll see the real story.
Like an enthusiastic puppy at the park, Goodwin made life difficult for superstars Devin Booker and Kevin Durant with his relentless defense. Redick couldn’t stop singing his praise and warned everyone not to judge players by their box score, saying, “Goodwin was the fairy dust that made it all work tonight, even with his stylish four fouls.”
The Lakers owe their glistening contender status not just to their headliners but to their unsung bench stars like Goodwin and co. He is the unsung hero, earning fans and possibly a permanent gig when his two-way contract gets an upgrade – assuming he doesn’t vanish into a mist of defensive brilliance first!
