Lakers sign 18-year-old battling brain cancer to 1-day contract

The Los Angeles Lakers signed 18-year-old Yitzi Teichman, who has been battling brain cancer, to a one-year contract according to SportsBlog.

Teichman signed his contract prior to last night’s game against the Charlotte Hornets and explained how everything came to be in further detail.

“I had my surgery at Johns Hopkins and Make-A-Wish came and they were like what do you want to do with your wish? Pretty easy,” Teichman smiled. “I want to be a Laker.”

“I don’t have much other shot (at being a Laker) considering my height. It’s either you’ve got to be good at basketball or get cancer,” Teichman laughed. “So, I went with the cancer route.”

Of course, Teichman won over his 24-hour teammates fairly easily, namely Lakers legend and future Hall-of-Famer Kobe Bryant.

“It was awesome,” Bryant said after the game. “He was just a part of the crew. He came in here and just hung out, sat next to me. He was here pregame, halftime, postgame. He fit in very well. He has an amazing spirit and he also has a positive outlook on the situation in terms of how he was able to pick it up.”

 

Teichman had a brain tumor removed last year and is doing much better now, but that doesn’t take away from the incredible gesture on the Lakers’ end. Though Los Angeles is 9-41 and owns the second-worst record in the NBA and has plenty of other things to worry about other than granting a wish from the Make-A-Wish foundation, the fact that GM Mitch Kupchak and team management were still willing to come through on this is a testament to how selfless the franchise can be.

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*Featured Photo (above) credit to Lakers Nation

Justin Tuck retiring from NFL after 11 seasons
Justin Tuck retiring from NFL after 11 seasons