Cole Swider dropped nine points on 3-of-4 shooting from beyond the arc in 12 minutes of action against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night, making a serious case for his spot with the Lakers. This isn’t just a random good game, it’s a statement from a player who has truly put in the work to get back to this level.
Back to Work, Back to Cali
Think about the grind this guy’s been on. Four years ago, Swider made his NBA debut with the Lakers, playing just seven games. After that, he bounced around, with brief stints at the Miami Heat, Detroit Pistons, and Toronto Raptors in 2023-24 and 2024-25. Then last year, he packed his bags for Europe, making 51 combined appearances between the EuroLeague and the Turkish Super League with Anadolu Efes. Now he’s back with the Lakers on an Exhibit 10 contract, and he’s not wasting this chance. Swider himself told reporters, “I’ve worked really, really hard on my body. Shout out to my performance coaches, Nick Correa and Anthony Tingley. I’ve worked really, really hard on my body. I’ve tried to change a lot of things.” He added, “I’ve worked with doctors. I worked with many, many different people. It’s mostly defensively, trying to figure that side of the basketball out at this level. And then just being a more dynamic shooter, being able to come off of pin downs and DHOs and being able to cause havoc on the court just with my spacing ability.” You gotta respect that kind of dedication.
That Shot Is Legit, Right?
The guy has always been able to shoot the rock from deep. Seriously, his outside shooting credentials are elite outside of the NBA. He hit 38% from long range in college, 45% in the G League, and a solid 41% overseas. But here’s the kicker: it hasn’t translated consistently to the NBA, where he’s only connected on 32.9% (28-of-85) of his career attempts. That’s a much smaller sample size, though. The question is, can this hard work he’s put in on his body and defense, combined with his natural shooting touch, finally make him stick in the Association? If he’s a high-level shooter AND he’s made strides defensively, his chances of staying in the league climb way, way up. Every single minute he gets on the floor is a chance to prove it.
Making the Most of Every Minute
Swider didn’t get on the court Monday night against the Sacramento Kings, but he made every second count when he finally got his chance against the Warriors. Those 12 minutes were pure hustle and skill, racking up nine points, hitting those three triples, and adding two steals, two assists, and two rebounds. That’s a complete line for a guy fighting for a spot. He’ll need to keep that fire going when the Lakers face the Kings again Thursday night at home. Every shot, every defensive stop, every hustle play is absolutely critical for him right now. Let’s see if he can keep that torrid outside shooting going.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Silver Screen and Roll.
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