Jul 6, 2024; San Francisco, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James Jr. (9) controls the ball towards Sacramento Kings guard Dane Goodwin (33) through the third quarter at Chase Middle. Necessary Credit score: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports activities Bronny James will make his second professional look Sunday night time towards the Golden State Warriors’ summer season league staff, and the Los Angeles Lakers rookie admitted the nerves acquired to him in his debut Saturday.
James scored 4 factors on 2-for-9 taking pictures within the Lakers’ 108-94 loss to the Sacramento Kings within the California Basic. He added two assists, two rebounds and a steal in 22 minutes of play.
“Each first sport that I step into the following degree, it is all the time some butterflies in my abdomen,” the 19-year-old instructed reporters, per ESPN. “However as quickly because the ball suggestions and we go a pair instances down, all of it goes away and I am simply taking part in basketball. So it is all the time going to be there, however I am going to get by way of it.”
The Lakers chosen Bronny — formally referred to as LeBron James Jr. — with the No. 55 choose of final month’s NBA draft. His well-known dad, additionally his Lakers’ teammate, wasn’t there and will not be readily available for Sunday’s sport in San Francisco. He is in Las Vegas with different NBA stars getting ready for to play for Staff USA within the Paris Olympics later this month.
Nonetheless, the elder James saved an eye fixed on his son.
“What he does within the California Basic and summer season league, it would not matter if he performs properly and it would not matter if he would not play properly,” LeBron stated, per ESPN. “I simply need him to proceed to develop (from) practices, movie classes, his particular person exercises. You’ll be able to’t take something stat-wise from the California Basic and summer season league and convey it to as soon as the season begins. So, the one factor that issues is him getting higher and stacking days.”
Dane Johnson, the coach of the Lakers’ G League affiliate, is accountable for the summer season league staff. He stated the plan is for Bronny to get his possibilities to be taught. Bronny, a guard, has performed one season — 25 video games — of school ball at Southern California after struggling cardiac arrest throughout a summer season exercise final July.
“He’ll play — granted, if he is wholesome — all through this entire factor,” Johnson stated of Bronny’s summer season league schedule. “We’ll attempt to combine him and attempt to get him as many reps as we will. As a result of he wants extra expertise taking part in. And particularly the NBA sport. It is just a little totally different than faculty, so getting reps within the NBA, in an NBA setting with good gamers will assist him in the long term.”
Dalton Knecht, chosen by the Lakers within the first spherical with the No. 17 choose, shot 3-for-12 and scored 12 factors.
After Sunday, the Lakers will conclude California Basic play Wednesday towards the Miami Warmth, then start play within the Las Vegas portion of the summer season league on Friday towards the Houston Rockets.
–Discipline Stage Media