News spread rapidly last week when the Los Angeles Lakers waived undrafted two-way rookie guard Quincy Olivari.
The prevailing question from both reporters and fans on X, the app formerly known as Twitter, seemed to be: How the heck do you cut Q?
While he didn’t see a ton of playing time on the Lakers roster, Olivari, 23, was magnetic in his starring role on the South Bay Lakers, the LA Lakers’ G-League team. The Xavier product poured in 17.2 points, 4.4 assists and 4.4 rebounds per contest on a team where he was probably one of the most recognizable players on the ballclub besides Bronny James.
The Lakers waived Olivari to make room on their roster in signing center Trey Jemison on a two-way deal. Jemison, who last played for the New Orleans Pelicans, fortified a Lakers need at the center position.
Quincy Olivari Expresses Gratitude To The Los Angeles Lakers, South Bay Lakers, Fans & LeBron James
While disappointed that he was waived, Olivari was thankful for his time with the Lakers. “It was great being here, especially being around a storied franchise like the Los Angeles Lakers,” Olivari told ScoopB.com by phone.
“I loved being in the facility every day around legends because I was able to ask questions and learn. More importantly, I enjoyed being around a legend in LeBron James and seeing how he approaches the game even in preseason games which is remarkable. He’s a guy that shows up every day and he’s literally the blueprint for how a player should approach the game.
It’s something I was excited to watch and I’m glad I was able to experience it. The formula and recipe was right in front of me. I’m going to miss the games and the energy from the fans at South Bay games too. The fan’s support and the energy was unmatched.”
Since being waived by the Lakers, there are some teams mulling over the idea of signing the guard. I’m hearing that he has a few workouts planned. While we wait on next steps in his playing career, his journey into the NBA is fascinating. Olivari became endearing to the Lakers fan base and the organization rather quickly. Olivari joined the Lakers for the 2024 NBA Summer League and then they signed him on an exhibit-10 contract.
Prior to latching on with the Lakers, Olivari carried a copy of his resume to meetings with teams during his draft process because he felt like it was a job interview. “I did it to try and get a job,” Olivari tells me.
“I wanted to stand out and show them that I’m a good character off the court and obviously it’s something that they talk about right now but, obviously I give a lot of shout out to my agent because it was his idea and I just followed the blueprint.”
During the NBA preseason, Olivari was on fire! In four games during the preseason with the Lakers, he recorded a total of 35 points on 12-for-13 shooting from the field, 8-for-14 from the third point line, 14 rebounds, and four assists.
Quincy Olivari Earns Respect of Steph Curry, LeBron James While Securing The Bag
Homeboy can shoot the rock! A few days before the start of the 2024-25 season, his contract was converted into a two-way contract.
Indeed he secured the bag and his teammates and peers began to like his vibe and enjoy his company.
For those keeping score at home: During Lakers media day, there was a memorable selfie that Olivari took with LeBron James that had many people on social media asking: “who the heck is number 41?”
In a game against the Milwaukee Bucks, he helped guide the team in securing their first preseason game win. Then in LA’s preseason finale against the Golden State Warriors, Lakers head coach, JJ Redick decided to rest players and as a result, Olivari got extended playing time. That game against the Warriors proved to be memorable, too. Prior to that game, Olivari formally met Warriors star Steph Curry and exchanged pleasantries.
Curry acknowledged having mutual respect for the Lakers rookie and Olivari acknowledged that Curry was one of his favorite players while growing up. A viral video surfaced of Curry and Olivari meeting one another when the rookie was a child. As fate would have it, days later, Curry signed Olivari to Team Curry under the Under Armor sneaker brand.
Gilbert Arenas, Kobe Bryant Grasped Olivari’s Attention As A Child
While Curry is surely one of Olivari’s favorite players during his childhood, the guard has an eclectic list of favorite NBA players. “Growing up, I mean, I enjoyed watching Gilbert Arenas,” he said.
“Nick Young… obviously Kyrie Irving, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant. On just entertainment? I loved Gilbert Arenas and Nick Young because it was always out there like they were out there shooting three balls and having fun playing with swag and I might’ve not agreed with every shot they took, but the fact that they had that kind of confidence to take it? You couldn’t shy away from it.”
Olivari says that Gilbert Arenas playing in a Washington Wizards uniform was a box office attraction “Oh it was DEFINITELY Washington,” he said.
“Definitely the game against the Lakers. That one year he was OD!”
Gilbert Arenas averaged 24.2 points, 4.9 assists and 4.8 rebounds in 16 games versus the Lakers in his career. Arenas’ most memorable game against the Lakers was a 60 point outing at Staples Center on December 17, 2006. In the Wizards’ 147-141 win, Agent Zero outshined Kobe Bryant’s 45 points, 10 assists and eight rebound outing. Arenas, who only scored 17 points in the first half of that game, shot 17 of 32 from the field while also going 21 of 27 from the free throw line.
“Obviously, I love watching Kobe — and I didn’t add him previously,” said Olivari.
“But that’s an obvious answer; I love watching Kobe. But Gilbert in that game against the Lakers? I’ve watched that game three times on YouTube.”
Olivari says that’s not the only game of Bryant’s that he remembers standing out. “Definitely the game against Phoenix when he closed them out on the road in the playoffs,” said Olivari referring to Kobe Bryant’s clutch bank shot jumper over Grant Hill in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals against the Phoenix Suns with five seconds left on the shot clock.
“That was COLD! And then he hit the shot in front of Alvin Gentry and turned around and looked at him and they just kind of shared a smile. I mean, I think the biggest thing that I take from him is just the mentality that I’m gonna work harder than everybody so when the time comes, I’ll feel like I’m the most prepared… and it’s that relentless mindset of always grinding and always chasing something better than the next thing or the last thing and that’s something that’ll take you far and that’s something that I still carry to this day.”
The Lakers won the 2010 WCF series against the Suns 4-2. Following that series, LA faced the Boston Celtics in the 2010 NBA Finals and defeated the Celtics 4-2 and brought the franchise its 16th World Championship.
Bronny James’ Rookie Season
Quincy Olivari was a spark for the South Bay Lakers G-League season during the regular season. However, the talented guard and former Lakers two way player was seldomly used on the NBA side for the Los Angeles Lakers. In two NBA games with the Lakers, he averaged 1.5 points per game and 0.5 assists while shooting 20 percent from the field and from downtown.
During his time in Los Angeles, Olivari’s watched the reception of Bronny James, LA’s second round pick in June’s NBA Draft and the son of the team’s franchise player, LeBron James. “People wanted Bronny to be his father right off the rip and that’s not a fair comparison for anybody, you know,” said Olivari.
“Bronny is his own person and he’s learning and wants to learn and be better and he’s going to continue to learn and he’s going to have his growing moments the same way I did when I was 19-20 in college. It just happens that he’s the son of the greatest basketball player ever to play and people are holding him to a standard that he didn’t… like, he’s not his father. He’s his own person and he continues to work hard and is the best version of himself and as he continues to grow around the people on the team whether it’s South Bay [Lakers] or the Los Angeles Lakers, he’ll eventually hit that stride and we’ll see that he is his own player. Not his father.”
Repping The Atlanta Hawks, Rocking With Jamal Crawford, Inspiration For Life
A Georgia native, Quincy Olivari began his college basketball career playing for five seasons at Xavier (2023-24) and Rice (2019-23). In his lone campaign as a Musketeer, Olivari appeared in 34 games and averaged 19.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.4 steals in 32.2 minutes. Prior to his collegiate career, the Atlanta, Georgia native was a standout athlete at Westlake High School where he averaged 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists as a high school senior. During his childhood there was only one team that he enjoyed watching: the Atlanta Hawks. “Most definitely I’m a huge Hawks fan,” he shared.
“I grew up watching Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Jeff Teague, Mike Bibby, Jamal Crawford, Josh Childress.”
Olivari expanded more on his respect that he has for Jamal Crawford. Crawford, who won the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year Award as a Hawk in 2010 had several top moments in Atlanta including sinking a three-pointer with six seconds remaining in Game 3 of an Eastern Conference semifinals matchup against the Orlando Magic. “Swag,” said Olivari. “Everybody that I named is like that, they had swag on their team. They played with confidence, they worked hard and they’re out there looking like they’re having fun and that’s the biggest thing that I try to express to people when I play basketball. I’m having fun.”
