The city of stars, fame, and fortune brings its own set of challenges for newcomers, particularly when it comes to the high cost of living. For the Lakers’ newest addition, Quincy Olivari, who recently inked a multi-million-dollar contract, life in LA is a stark contrast to the more affordable Cincinnati, Ohio. While the undrafted rookie feels grateful for his new position, he’s less enchanted by one aspect of LA life: the steep prices at the gas pump.

Quincy Olivari recently signed a multi-million-dollar contract with the Lakers, but life in Los Angeles has proven challenging, particularly due to the exorbitant cost of living. Voicing his frustration about the new life, he remarked, “The biggest thing is the gas prices. All the gas prices start with like five, and some of them start with six.” Coming from Cincinnati, where gas is priced at a mere $2, the sudden shift has hit hard: “It’s like $80 to fill up my tank here, and then the traffic, that’s a whole other problem.”

Despite his lucrative contract, Olivari isn’t immune to the everyday struggles of life in LA. He noted, “Back at school in Cincinnati, I didn’t have to think twice about the gas price. But coming out here, it’s really expensive.” He emphasized the overwhelming congestion, stating, “Atlanta traffic don’t compare, Houston traffic doesn’t compare.” However, even with these challenges, Olivari is navigating his new life in the City of Angels.

For this Texas-born star, it happens to be the beaches. “The traffic’s terrible, but I guess the beaches help make up for it,” Olivari noted. The California coastline is an escape from the grind of his new surroundings, offering an air of reliance amid the whirlwind. Even though the gas prices came as a surprise, Quincy Olivari knows how to adapt to new circumstances. Despite the challenges offered by the new city, he said: “It’s cool though.”

His most recent outing with the Lakers gave us a clue of Quincy’s prowess. He recorded 22 points on 5-of-9 shooting from long distance, along with seven rebounds and two assists in 39 minutes against the Warriors, fulfilling the dreams of his younger self. Now, with a well-earned spot on the roster, Olivari is rubbing shoulders with NBA legends, adding to the pockets of joy that make it all worthwhile.

A New Chapter, But Familiar Faces

As his impressive performance gained traction on social media, Olivari was met with praise from his all-time favorite player, Stephen Curry, who said, “Real as they come.” This sentiment resonated deeply with Olivari, who shared, “I had his jersey. He signed it twice. I used to sleep under that jersey,” reflecting his emotional connection to the moment. He also received a warm welcome from LeBron James, whose message of “YEEEEAAAAHHHHH Q!!!!! Congrats kid.”

The rookie made most of his opportunity when subbed in by JJ Redick in the 4th quarter. “Quincy just completely changed the game. To me, and I told our guys this after, what he did is the blueprint for what we’re asking for a few of our players in terms of just picking up full court, being disruptive, taking time off the shot clock,” said Redick proud and affirmative of his decision. “I thought he just executed exactly what we want from someone in his position and we’ve challenged a number of guys and they’ve done it well to varying degrees. But, I haven’t seen it executed that well until tonight with Quincy.”

Given all the upsides, living the dream, even with a few hurdles that will eventually fade, doesn’t seem so bad, right? Olivari’s journey is a testament to finding balance. As he navigates the highs and lows of a new city, the rewards are undeniably present. With LeBron and Curry in his corner and a city eager to see him shine, Quincy Olivari is well on his way to making his mark—gas prices and all.