There was palpable excitement during the Los Angeles Lakers’ media day on Monday, as fans got a closer look into their new-look squad. And for rookie Cameron Carr, who was drafted 24th overall during the 2026 NBA Draft, this was a surreal experience that will stick with him for a long time.
While Media Day duties are something new to Carr, going through all the photoshoots and interviews evoked a familiar feeling for the 21-year-old guard out of Baylor. He told the media that his first rodeo felt like his first day at school, and he even called his mother to share his excitement over the entire thing.
“Man, it’s like a first day of school again! I was on the phone with my mom before I walked in here. I just hope I represent myself well. Man, it’s exciting to be able to do this,” Carr said with a huge smile on his face, via NBA TV on X.
“It’s like a first day of school!”
An excited Cameron Carr says he called his mom right before taking the podium for his first Lakers media day! pic.twitter.com/G18WbVYlBg
— NBA TV (@NBATV) September 28, 2026
Lakers fans are going to love Carr not just for his play on the court, but also for the way he carries himself off of it. He knows how much of a privilege it is to reach the NBA, and he never takes anything for granted. This translates to the kind of joy he brings with him to the court, which one can see in his electric style of play.
Now, it’s not quite clear how big of a role Carr will be playing in his rookie campaign. Standing at 6-foot-5, he can play minutes at the two and even slide over to the three in some lineups. Head coach JJ Redick might bring him along slowly, but he’s a tantalizing prospect with plenty of athleticism who might play well enough to earn a concrete role in the rotation as the season progresses.
Last season with Baylor, Carr averaged 18.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per contest on 49/37/80 shooting splits.
