Matt Ryan

Ryan was of course referring to LeBron James, who finished the game with 20 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. But the moment was all his. Ryan explained ...

And after the win, he clearly wasn’t used to the attention he was getting. Ryan explained that coach Darvin Ham drew up the game-saving shot specifically for him and gushed over the experience. Ryan finished the game with 11 points on 4-for-11 shooting in 18 minutes of action. He also worked at a cemetery and coached a grassroots basketball team before getting his next playing opportunity. But the moment was all his. I don’t know when I earned it.”

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/)?

Matt Ryan hit a tying corner 3-pointer off a pinpoint crosscourt inbounds pass to send the Lakers to overtime on their way to their second straight win.

"It's starting to click, starting to find things. The Lakers wouldn't have been in that position if not for missing five straight shots in the last minute and a half of the fourth quarter that preceded Ryan's shot. "Just kept fighting, trying to stay in this moment of remembering how winning feels. To that point, L.A.'s next opponent Friday, the "But the play was definitely intended for him. "My confidence is, when it comes to shooting, it's unwavering," said Ryan, who was 2-for-8 from 3 the day before hitting the big one.

Matt Ryan was the unlikely hero for the Lakers in their recent win over the Pelicans, and he discussed how his game-tying shot came to be.

Somehow, Ryan found a way to make it work, and without his heroics, the Lakers would be starting down the barrel at another loss wondering what went wrong. After the win, Ryan took the time to reflect on his big shot and how it came to be. Ryan has provided a much needed shooting boost to a Lakers team that is perilously thin on shooting, and he did exactly what was asked of him by nailing a game-tying three point shot as time expired to send the Lakers to overtime with the Pelicans.

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.

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

But he saw little action in Celtics green; Ryan played just five minutes during his time in Boston, none of which came in the playoffs. He bounced around a bit, signing a deal with the Nuggets — and their G-League affiliate — before joining the Celtics on a two-way contract. Ryan took his talents to Vanderbilt for the 2018-19 season and saw increased playing time, making 25 starts as a junior. He spent his 2019-20 season in Chattanooga, turning out with the Mocs. But now he's here, sharing a court with LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook and the rest of his Lakers teammates. It was a moment years in the making for Ryan.

The remarkable story of Matt Ryan continued on Wednesday as his game-tying 3-pointer forced overtime, leading to the Lakers coming away with an unlikely ...

“Austin threw a hell of a pass and we were fortunate because we felt kind of terrible to be in that position. Austin threw a hell of a pass, a hell of a pass over the top and Matt did what he do; made the three and sent it to overtime.” “I kind of just felt in my gut that they know that Matt is a threat to shoot it but...the play was definitely intended for him,” Ham said. “I had a good shot in Summer League to win a game. “I was able to get my feet down and get a clean release,” Ryan said, “so, I don’t want to sound cocky at all, but I was able to get my feet down, get a shot off. And yet, despite being ice cold as a shooter and having gone over half a quarter without playing, Ryan was the player Ham put his confidence in. Austin Reaves took care of the rest, lofting a pass across the court into the corner that would have made Matt Ryan the quarterback blush. “When Darvin drew it up, I was like ‘There’s no way I’m throwing it (to Matt Ryan),’” Reaves added. I saw a bunch go in and out so I knew I was going to make a couple eventually if I got that opportunity again. I can’t show enough gratitude to Coach Ham for putting me in a position to succeed there.” [Door Dasher turned NBA sharpshooter](https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2022/10/15/23406118/lakers-news-matt-ryan-15th-man-nba-roster-shooting-g-league-nonguaranteed-contract) made the most of his opportunity, something he struggled to do for much of the night. For the second game in a row, Darvin Ham left his card full of after-timeout plays in the locker room.

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.