The Los Angeles Lakers continue to reshape their roster ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season, and the latest move involves saying goodbye to a young big man who gave the team quality minutes in limited action. The team officially announced that they have waived center Trey Jemison III, a 25-year-old developmental prospect who appeared in 22 games for the Lakers during the 2024-25 campaign. While Jemison’s stint with the purple and gold may have flown under the radar for most fans, his effort, attitude, and hustle earned him respect within the locker room and the coaching staff. With this move, the Lakers free up a roster spot and gain more flexibility as they look to solidify their frontcourt for a deep playoff run.
Jemison’s story is one of perseverance and work ethic. He went undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft, a disappointment for a player who showed flashes of elite rim protection and rebounding potential during his college career at UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham). Despite not hearing his name called, Jemison refused to quit on his professional dreams. He worked tirelessly to refine his skill set, eventually catching the attention of Lakers scouts with his performance in the G League. His combination of size, motor, and defensive awareness stood out in a league that increasingly values versatile big men who can contribute without demanding touches on offense. That grit and unselfishness led to Jemison being signed by the Lakers in late 2024 on a two-way contract, giving him his first real opportunity to prove he belonged on the NBA stage.
In his 22 appearances with the Lakers, Jemison averaged 2.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks in just 10.3 minutes per game, shooting an efficient 62% from the field. While those numbers might not jump off the page, they underscored a role player who understood his job and executed it with discipline. He set hard screens, boxed out with physicality, and altered shots in the paint. More importantly, he didn’t try to do too much. In a league often dominated by stars, Trey Jemison found his value in doing the little things that win games—diving for loose balls, battling for tough rebounds, and playing within the system. Head coach Darvin Ham often praised Jemison’s energy and professionalism during postgame pressers, especially on nights when injuries or foul trouble forced him into larger-than-expected minutes.
Jemison’s best performance came in a midseason contest against the Sacramento Kings, when he was pressed into extended action due to foul trouble for Anthony Davis. In just under 20 minutes of play, Jemison pulled down 9 rebounds, blocked 3 shots, and helped hold Kings center Domantas Sabonis to one of his lowest scoring games of the year. While the box score reflected a modest contribution, the eye test told a different story—Jemison was a physical force in the paint, and his willingness to compete gave the Lakers a defensive spark. That performance, among others, earned him a deeper level of trust from the coaching staff. Teammates also rallied around the young center, often referring to him as one of the “glue guys” in the locker room who never complained and always brought effort in practice.
Still, the business of basketball is unforgiving, especially when roster space and cap management are at a premium. As the Lakers continue to navigate a complex offseason with aspirations of contending for a championship, tough decisions must be made. Jemison became the odd man out in a crowded frontcourt rotation that already includes Anthony Davis, Jaxson Hayes, newly signed veteran Al Horford, and most recently, 7-footer Christian Koloko on a two-way deal. The Lakers have also shown interest in adding another stretch big who can provide floor spacing—something Jemison, with his limited shooting range, cannot yet offer. With the team’s desire to surround LeBron James and Anthony Davis with more offensive versatility and playoff-tested depth, the front office opted to move on from the young center despite his promising development.
While this move may come as a disappointment to some fans who appreciated Jemison’s blue-collar style of play, the Lakers made sure to express their gratitude for what he brought to the franchise. In their official statement, the team thanked Jemison “for his professionalism, effort, and dedication to the game,” adding that “he has a bright future ahead in the NBA and will always be part of the Lakers family.” It’s not uncommon for players who are waived to fade quietly from the headlines, but the outpouring of support for Jemison—both internally and from fans on social media—speaks volumes about the impact he made in a short amount of time.
For Jemison, this chapter may have closed, but the book is far from finished. He now enters unrestricted free agency with a reputation as a reliable backup center who can contribute defensively, rebound well, and stay within his role. Several teams in need of size and interior toughness could come calling. Given his age and work ethic, there’s reason to believe Jemison will find another opportunity in the league, perhaps with a team that offers a clearer path to rotation minutes. G League teams and international clubs may also express interest, but the sense around the league is that Jemison has earned another NBA look—especially with more teams shifting toward hybrid big men who don’t need the ball to make an impact.
Jemison’s time with the Lakers may not have ended with headlines or highlight reels, but it exemplified the kind of quiet, hard-nosed contribution that every great team needs. His willingness to do the dirty work, to play his role without ego, and to push his teammates in practice will be missed. In a league where many players chase numbers and recognition, Jemison stood out by embracing his role with humility and intensity. That doesn’t always translate into long-term roster spots, but it does earn respect—and often leads to future opportunities when other teams take notice of the behind-the-scenes grind.
For the Lakers, the decision to waive Jemison signals that their front office continues to work aggressively to tailor the roster to championship contention. Every slot matters, especially with the uncertain futures of aging stars and the need to balance development with winning now. The addition of Christian Koloko, who brings a similar defensive profile but with more upside as a rim-runner and vertical spacer, likely factored into the decision. So too did the desire to keep roster spots open for potential trades or midseason acquisitions, especially as the team continues to explore a rumored consolidation trade involving Dalton Knecht and Maxi Kleber.
The NBA is a league built on stars, but sustained success requires contributions from every rung of the depth chart. Trey Jemison III may have been a role player, but he played his role with dignity and purpose. The Lakers will move forward, and so will Jemison—but their paths may cross again. As teams finalize their rosters in training camp and begin scouting for injury replacements and two-way standouts, players like Jemison, who have already proven they can step in and play NBA minutes, will be on shortlists across the league.
Ultimately, Trey Jemison’s brief run with the Lakers wasn’t just about stats. It was about showing that even in limited opportunities, a player can make a difference through energy, accountability, and toughness. He earned the respect of coaches, teammates, and fans, and he reminded everyone watching that there’s still room in the league for players who bring lunch-pail effort every night. Whether his next stop is in the NBA or elsewhere, Jemison leaves Los Angeles with his head held high—and with the thanks of a franchise and a fan base that saw something valuable in the way he approached the game.
