Peter Suder, who signed a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers after going undrafted, is focused on translating his competitive drive from college to the NBA. The Lakers organization was initially drawn to Suder's basketball IQ, unselfishness, and particularly his competitiveness during a pre-draft workout.
Suder's tenacity was on full display on March 6 when his Miami (Ohio) RedHawks team was on the verge of an undefeated regular season. Facing their in-state rival, the Ohio Bobcats, in a hostile environment, Suder contributed five points in overtime to secure the victory. The game was marked by intense crowd interaction, with fans throwing trash onto the court. Suder acknowledged a viral moment where he exchanged words with the crowd, stating he enjoyed the experience.
Now with the Lakers, Suder's competitive nature remains evident, even as he adjusts to the professional level. During summer league play, he has been observed diving for loose balls and hustling to create or save possessions, despite his shooting efficiency not yet matching his college performance. Through six exhibitions, he shot 33% from the field and 22.2% from three-point range, a dip from his 42.1% field goal percentage in his final college season.
Suder recognizes that improving his three-point shooting is crucial for his NBA success. "The No. 1 thing is for me to be successful and get a really good role at the NBA level and play consistent minutes, [I] got to be able to shoot the cover off the ball from 3," he told The Post. "That’s got to become my bread and butter."
He is also aware of the "stereotype" associated with his game in the NBA and is actively working on his defensive capabilities, specifically lateral quickness. "My stereotype in the NBA is to be a 6-foot-4, 6-foot-5 catch-and-shoot guy," Suder explained. "The main thing that NBA teams do nowadays is they see an advantage that they like, and they just go at it and they just keep doing it until, basically, you earn their respect that you can guard the ball."
Summer league serves as Suder's initial step in adapting to the differences between mid-major college basketball and the NBA. His summer league coach, Ty Abbott, noted that Suder will be placed in various roles, emphasizing the importance of his aggressiveness, confidence, and ability to make plays. "It’s about his shot-making ability, and then ability to be a little bit versatile, handle the ball a little bit, kind of a jack-of-all-trades thing there as well," Abbott said.