Turiaf Gives Lakers Fans One More Reason to Cheer

You may remember Ronny Turiaf from his playing days at Gonzaga; the man with the big smile and the bigger hair. Turiaf’s exuberance and passion made him a favorite among Zags’ fans, the same qualities that will surely make him popular among Lakers ticket holders.

Ronny Turiaf

Following his senior season at Gonzaga, Turiaf was diagnosed with a heart ailment that required open-heart surgery. The dream of a career in the NBA was quickly flashing before his eyes as he received the diagnosis that he may never play basketball again.

After the surgery and a battery of tests, Turiaf was cleared to resume playing basketball again. Full of resolve and determination, Turiaf started his comeback with the CBA’s Yakima Sun Kings, where he played his way back into basketball shape. After his relatively brief stint with the Sun Kings, Turiaf was called-up by the Lakers during the past season.

Playing in 23 games this past season, Turiaf’s number were modest (2.0 ppg. and 1.6 rpg), but his game continues to evolve. While he scored the basketball in college he does not feature a polished offensive repertoire. Right now he’s an energy guy; someone Phil Jackson can rely on to come off the bench and provide quality minutes without taking a step-back. He’s a nice complement to Chris Mihm and Brian Cook, both of whom prefer to face the basket while Turiaf is more of a banger.

It’s truly a miracle that Turiaf is playing basketball again, much less playing for the Lakers. You’ll love his energy and how hard he plays every night. If you needed another reason to watch the Lakers this year, now you have one. Need Los Angeles Lakers tickets? StubHub has got you covered.

 

Posted in General on October 31, 2006

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