Robert Sacre (C, Los Angeles Lakers), Canada
Height: 2.13 m, 7 feet | Weight: 117.9kg, 260 pounds | Born: 6 June 1989
For the first year of his NBA career, one of the cornerstones of Canada's basketball resurgence had built up a reputation more for his work next to the court than on it.
Robert Sacre came to the Lakers as the 60th pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. He tThen spent most of the year splitting his time between the NBA D-League and the Laker bench, where he quickly rose in the ranks of the NBA's top celebrators.
Yes. Celebrators.
Sacre's sideline dance moves throughout 2012-13 put him on YouTube's radar. In 2013-14, his play put him on the NBA map. As Sacre's playing time jumped to 16.8 minutes a night, up from 6.3 in his rookie year, so did his performance across the board. His 5.4-point, 3.9-rebound, 0.7-block average this season projects to 11 points, 8.3 boards and 1.5 swats per 36 minutes.
Over the season's final six weeks, with Pau Gasol battling injuries, L.A. leaned even more on its second-year big. From 13 March until the Lakers' finale on 16 April, Sacre averaged 23 minutes a night, putting up 7.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in the 18 games. And hHeading into 2014-15, without Gasol or Kaman, Sacre's looking like L.A.'s clear backup at center.
Plenty of reason for optimism. Plenty of reason to celebrate.
Key Stats
MIN: 16.8 | PTS: 5.4 | FG%: 47.7 | REB: 3.9
Season Highlight
Though his burst of playing time came in the season's final stretch, Sacre played his best game in his sixth appearance of the year, going for 12 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks and 2 steals against Portland on 1 December.
Five Things to Know
1. He's a dual citizen of Canada and the U.S.
2. Sacre participated in one of the strangest moments in NBA history last season. After fouling out for the Lakers on 5 Feb 2014 – a night that saw the Lakers come into the game with just eight players (seven, when Steve Nash couldn't enter the game) then lose two to injury – L.A. was left with just four players. But, due to NBA rules, Sacre was allowed to stay in the game on the condition that the Lakers were assessed a technical every time he committed a foul.
3. He played for the Canadian National Team in the 2010 FIBA World Cup.
4. Before last season, Sacre, center Chris Kaman and Laker strength and conditioning coach Tim DiFrancesco purchased a grass-fed cow as part of a healthier-eating mission. Kaman took 200 pounds of the meat. Sacre and DiFrancesco split the second half. According to Yahoo's Ball Don't Lie Blog, Sacre had to buy another refrigerator to fit all the meat.
5. The inspiration for his dance moves? The 'Looney Tunes' character Yosemite Sam. (The Starters blog)
Check out Sacre's photos and video in the LEAGUE section of NBA Game Time.
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