Kent Bazemore Starting for LA Lakers After Just One Game with Team

Well, that didn't take long. 

After just one game in his new purple and gold duds, Kent Bazemore has been inserted into the Los Angeles Lakers' starting lineup for Sunday night's contest against the Brooklyn Nets, according to the Los Angeles Daily News' Mark Medina: 

Bazemore will slot in at small forward, flanked by Kendall Marshall and Jodie Meeks, while Wesley Johnson will slide up to power forward and rookie Ryan Kelly will move back into a reserve role. 

Sunday will also mark the first time that Bazemore has started a game during his two-year career. 

In his inaugural performance on Friday against the Celtics, Bazemore looked confident, scoring 15 points, dishing out four assists, pulling down three rebounds and racking up two steals in 33 minutes off the bench. The Lakers were plus-19 with Bazemore on the floor in the 101-92 win. 

According to Basketball Reference, Bazemore also recorded an offensive rating of 117 and a defensive rating of 95 during that small 33-minute sample. 

Considering the Lakers are eternally banged up and Mike D'Antoni's rotation is constantly in flux, Bazemore has a legitimate shot at making a name for himself should he continue to flash consistent effort on the defensive end and thrive on the fast break in an offense that's generating the league's second-most possessions per 48 minutes, according to NBA.com. 

The former Golden State Warriors swingman was a Las Vegas Summer League standout this past year, leading his team to a title while averaging 18.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists and shooting 44 percent from the field.