During his highly anticipated appearance at the Las Vegas NBA Summer League, Bronny James displayed his talent and suggested that he may be open to considering the G League for increased playing time.
James, representing the Los Angeles Lakers, recorded eight points, four rebounds, and two steals in a 99-80 defeat against the Houston Rockets. During the course of 20 minutes of gameplay, he had difficulty with his shooting, making only 3 out of 12 shots and failing to make any of his six three-point attempts. Although faced with obstacles, James showed his competitive spirit by swiftly making two baskets, one of which was the Lakers’ second in the game. This was his best scoring performance out of his three Summer League games, exceeding his past games against the Sacramento Kings and the Miami Heat.
James has scored an average of five points per game in his three games while shooting at a 23% rate from the field. When questioned about the potential for a G League placement to increase playing time, James did not dismiss the concept. “I’m eagerly anticipating any basketball game I participate in – regardless of the level,” he remarked.
Rob Pelinka watching Bronny & realizing he has to tell LeBron he’s a G-League sixth man (maybe) #NBA2KSummerLeague pic.twitter.com/XbLamwNY2R
— BigMikeMcD (@PreMoveObserver) July 13, 2024
Before the season, James agreed to a four-year contract worth $7.9 million with the Lakers. He admitted to facing challenges recently by stating, “I currently feel like I’m in a small rut.”
Reed Sheppard Stands Out in Game Against the Lakers
Despite James’ inconsistent performance, newcomer Reed Sheppard was the standout. The third pick in the NBA Draft in June top-scored for the Houston Rockets with 23 points, four rebounds, five assists, and three blocks. He made a strong impact with his shooting, hitting 4 out of 6 three-pointers and 9 out of 17 shots in total. Cam Whitmore, who was the MVP of last year’s Summer League, contributed 20 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, and four steals to the Rockets.
Dalton Knecht, the Lakers’ first-round pick, continued to make a strong impression. The 17th pick from Tennessee led the game with 25 points, along with six rebounds and four assists, making 5-of-11 shots from beyond the arc.
The Lakers’ newest coach, JJ Redick, made an appearance on the ESPN broadcast in the first quarter, offering his perspective on LeBron James’ son and what the team anticipates from him. Redick complimented the defensive performance of the Cali Classic’s last game. He had around eight or nine moments where he either applied ball pressure or switched defensively to make plays. That has been a major focus in all my talks with the team during practice sessions.
Redick stressed that the Lakers are hoping for James to concentrate on applying pressure to the ball. He singled out players such as Luguentz Dort and Jrue Holiday for James to model himself after, especially following their performance in a pre-Olympic exhibition game between Team USA and Canada.
Previewing: Lakers against Celtics
The Lakers will play against the Boston Celtics in their upcoming Summer League match, taking place on Monday night at 10:30 p.m. A version of the same text could be:
AL. This game provides another chance for up-and-coming talents such as Bronny James and Dalton Knecht to demonstrate their abilities and prove their worth for the upcoming NBA season.