Matt Ryan

2022 - 11 - 3

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Image courtesy of "The Athletic"

The unlikely journeyman Lakers clutch hero: Matt Ryan's whirlwind ... (The Athletic)

Matt Ryan's improbable journey has taken him from the cemetery to the NBA, and his newest stop is alongside LeBron James in L.A..

He shot 1-of-3 from deep, but the Lakers made just 10-of-40 3s in the loss to the [Warriors](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/warriors/), and James said afterward: “I mean, to be completely honest, we’re not a team that’s constructed of great shooting.” Ryan first landed on Ford’s radar in December, when Ford was hurrying through the Las Vegas airport on his way to catch the end of the annual G League showcase. [Phoenix](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/suns/) and is now out of pro ball. “Every day I’ve got to come in and prove I’m the best shooter in the gym,” Ryan said. The BPITW mention refers to [LeBron James](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/lebron-james-dxRvkEThnxpMbhcr/). Fast-forward from that fateful February day in the nation’s capital to the present. “Now I come here, and I’m playing with the best player in the world.” When Ryan arrived the week before in Washington to play for Boylen, he had no offer from the Celtics. [NBA](https://theathletic.com/nba/) Draft then, in 2021, didn’t get into the G League bubble. “I talked to Brad for like five minutes and then hung up the phone and started crying,” Ryan said. He told them about all the texts and calls to his phone and stepped away to return that call. The bus rolled toward the hotel, and a call came to Ryan’s phone.

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Image courtesy of "Los Angeles Times"

Inside the Lakers' biggest shot: How Matt Ryan hit a crazy 3 (Los Angeles Times)

Let's hear from Lakers players and coach on how Matt Ryan got open for his three-pointer at the buzzer to force overtime in a win over the Pelicans.

And just to see him, just the look in his eyes, where he’s ready to do whatever he can to contribute, and that’s his main super power. Ryan: “I was able to get my feet down and get a clean release. So, I don’t want to sound cocky at all, but like I was able to get my feet down and get a shot off. As he caught the pass slightly over his head right in front of the Lakers’ bench, he looked down to check that his feet were behind the line. With it still in the air, the horn sounded and the clock expired. We were in game three and the shot I hit to win it, it was the same shot. You have to try to get it to the corner, knowing that the defender can’t be too close to you because they don’t want to … The earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic cost his chances to work out for NBA scouts, so he took jobs as a cemetery groundskeeper and as a delivery driver. 23, Ham defended putting guard Austin Reaves in the game by calling him “one of our better in-bounders.” Wednesday night, he put Reaves in the position to float the cross-court pass to corner. We come in on Monday and the low-minute guys and the guys who didn’t play, we played live. The general idea is to set a back screen for someone flaring to the far corner. But the play was definitely intended for him.”

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Image courtesy of "CBSSports.com"

Who is Matt Ryan, the DoorDash driver turned Lakers sharpshooter? (CBSSports.com)

Ryan's journey to Los Angeles is one of the crazier NBA stories you'll hear.

[Austin Reaves](/nba/players/2268681/austin-reaves/) at Summer League that they signed him to the active roster before camp even began. Ryan had the chance to compete for one of those empty roster spots this season, and he made the most of it. Ryan wasn't great, but his 35.5 percent mark from deep in the preseason combined with his performance at training camp got him the nod. In the hour (or rather, second) of greatest need, the Lakers gave the ball to a former delivery driver named [Matt Ryan](/nba/players/2203041/matt-ryan/), who swished a 3-pointer to send the game to overtime. [Denver Nuggets](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/DEN/denver-nuggets/) did. Ryan was the first play to swarm his more well-known teammate. Before you ask, no, he isn't the now-benched Indianapolis Colts quarterback moonlighting as a basketball player in search of a new gig, but his story is just as improbable. To supplement his income, he worked as a delivery driver for UberEats and DoorDash. [Los Angeles Lakers](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/LAL/los-angeles-lakers/) were staring a 1-6 start in the face Wednesday as they trailed the [New Orleans Pelicans](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/NO/new-orleans-pelicans/) 111-108 with just 1.3 seconds remaining on the clock. Of course, 2020 and 2021 were the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Surely it was four-time MVP [LeBron James](/nba/players/400553/lebron-james/), right? how about eight-time All-Star [Anthony Davis](/nba/players/1992786/anthony-davis/)?

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Image courtesy of "Sports Illustrated"

Lakers News: Matt Ryan Is Here To Stay (Sports Illustrated)

Matt Ryan (not the Indianapolis Colts quarterback, the Los Angeles Lakers small forward), a 2022 training camp invite on a non-guaranteed contract, ...

Across 14 minutes a night with the Lakers, Ryan is averaging 6.2 points while shooting 42.3% from the field (a number that includes his 45% shooting on 4.0 three-point attempts a night). I wasn't making a lot of shots all game, I had I think three or four in-and-outs and I'm just thankful coach gave me another opportunity to hit a three at the end to send it to OT... Glad it was a three, glad it went in, and I was just glad that we had five more minutes to try and get a win... I was just glad I didn't step out of bounds or on the [three-point line]. Matt Ryan (not the Indianapolis Colts quarterback, the Los Angeles Lakers small forward), a 2022 training camp invite on a non-guaranteed contract, snuck onto your Lakers' opening night roster by benefit of nailing a bunch of triples during the team's 1-5 preseason run. Both players have significantly more NBA pedigree than Ryan, but because of this one elite skill, Ham has prioritized the undrafted journeyman out of Chattanooga over his two higher-profile colleagues.

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Image courtesy of "Sporting News AU"

Who is Matt Ryan? Lakers' forward and former DoorDash driver ... (Sporting News AU)

Here's what you need to know about Matt Ryan, the former DoorDash driver who delivered for the Lakers against the Pelicans on Wednesday.

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Image courtesy of "Sporting News"

Matt Ryan plays unsung hero as game-tying buzzer-beater leads ... (Sporting News)

Matt Ryan played unsung hero as the role player's game-tying 3-pointer leads the Lakers to an overtime win over the Pelicans.

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Image courtesy of "Yahoo Sport Australia"

Lakers' Matt Ryan goes from DoorDash driver to buzzer-beater hero ... (Yahoo Sport Australia)

The game had been all but lost late in the fourth quarter. The Pelicans took a 111-108 lead on a dunk from former Laker Larry Nance Jr. with 7.8 seconds left, ...

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Image courtesy of "ESPN Australia"

Matt Ryan's clutch 3 sends Lakers to OT on way to 2nd straight win (ESPN Australia)

LOS ANGELES -- As sick as LeBron James felt coming into Wednesday's game against the New Orleans Pelicans -- bedridden by a virus that even caused him to ...

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Image courtesy of "NBC Sports"

Watch Matt Ryan sink insane corner 3 to force OT, where Lakers ... (NBC Sports)

Lakers rookie Matt Ryan hit a ridiculous leaning corner three to force overtime, where Los Angeles built a lead and hung on for the win.

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Image courtesy of "Bleacher Report"

Lakers' Matt Ryan Praised by NBA Twitter After Clutch 3 to Take ... (Bleacher Report)

After LeBron James criticized the Los Angeles Lakers for not having shooters earlier this season, Matt Ryan decided to showcase his touch to help the team ...

Ryan scored 11 points on 3-of-9 shooting from three-point range, but he made the biggest shot of his career in the most important moment for Los Angeles. Russell Westbrook looks like he's getting more comfortable coming off the bench, as he had his most efficient shooting game of the season with 13 points on 6-of-10 shooting. But the Lakers found enough scoring punch to hang on for the win.

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Image courtesy of "FOXSports.com"

Lakers forward Matt Ryan goes from DoorDash driver to hero (FOXSports.com)

Matt Ryan went from delivering for DoorDash to knocking down a game-tying 3-pointer for the Lakers on Wednesday night.

[ Brooklyn Nets](/stories/nba/nets-create-more-questions-with-steve-nash-split-ime-udoka-rumors) [Austin Reaves](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/austin-reaves-player) has been a reliable perimeter shooter, making 40% of his shot attempts from beyond the arc. Then he redshirted one season at [Vanderbilt](https://www.foxsports.com/college-basketball/vanderbilt-commodores-team), later starting for the Commodores in the 2018-19 season. Ryan then transferred and started at [Chattanooga](https://www.foxsports.com/college-basketball/chattanooga-mocs-team) in the 2019-20 season, where he averaged 15.4 points per game. [Notre Dame](https://www.foxsports.com/college-basketball/notre-dame-fighting-irish-team), where he primarily came off the bench for two seasons. "He stuck one foot in the ground inbounds and nailed it, and then he mean-mugs all around the court. [ National Basketball Association](/stories/nba/dwight-howard-joins-club-shay-shay-kobe-bryant-nba-top-75-shannon-sharpe) [Pelicans](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/new-orleans-pelicans-team) holding onto a 111-108 lead with 1.3 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Ryan hit an off-balanced 3-pointer off the inbounds pass to send the game to overtime. The Lakers have struggled mightily on the offensive end this season. He joined the On the season, he's averaging 6.2 points per game while shooting 42.3/45.0/00.0. He's gonna get the ball, oh he's shooting it.

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