Plenty of NBA fans curious to see how Bronny James would perform in his Las Vegas NBA Summer League debut ended up getting a show from another rookie instead.
James scored eight points with four rebounds and two steals in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 99–80 loss to the Houston Rockets. The rookie guard played 20 minutes, scoring two points in the second half. He shot 3-for-12 from the floor, going 0-for-6 on 3-pointers.
However, James got off to a quick start, aggressively taking the ball to the basket. He scored two baskets early, including the Lakers’ second of the game.
James’ eight points were the highest scoring total James in his three Summer League games. He scored four in his Summer League debut versus the Sacramento Kings and notched three against the Miami Heat, both games played at the California Classic. (James missed the Lakers’ second game in California due to knee swelling.)
In his three Summer League games, James is averaging five points per game on 23% shooting from the field.
With the slow start, it was inevitable James would be asked if he was open to a G League assignment to get in competitive minutes rather than sit on the Lakers bench. That question came up Friday, with James not ruling out the idea, via ESPN:
“I’m just looking forward to any basketball I play — no matter what level I’m playing at,” James said.
James signed a guaranteed four-year, $7.9 million contract with the Lakers before the season. He also reportedly said “I just feel like I’m in a little slump right now” to explain his performance.
Reed Sheppard was the rookie who impressed plenty of spectators. The No. 3 overall pick in June’s NBA Draft led Houston with 23 points, adding four rebounds, five assists and three blocks. He shot 4-for-6 from 3 and 9-for-17 overall from the field.
Last year’s Summer League MVP, Cam Whitmore, added 20 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and four steals for the Rockets.
Once again, the Lakers’ most impressive rookie was first-round pick Dalton Knecht. The No. 17 overall pick out of Tennessee scored a game-high 25 points with six rebounds and four assists, shooting 5-for-11 from long range.
New Lakers coach JJ Redick joined the ESPN telecast in the first quarter, reuniting with former broadcast partners Mark Jones and Doris Burke, and explained that scoring isn’t what the team is looking for from LeBron James’ son.
“I thought the last game of the Cali Classic, defensively, he was terrific,” Redick said. “He had eight or nine possessions where, whether it was ball pressure or switching, just making plays defensively. That’s been a real point of emphasis in all my conversations in the times I’ve been with the team on the practice floor.”
Redick added that the Lakers want James to pressure the ball. While he didn’t compare the rookie to Luguentz Dort and Jrue Holiday, who Redick watched when he attended Thursday’s pre-Olympics exhibition between Team USA and Canada, those are the kinds of players he wants James to look at as examples.
The Lakers next face the Boston Celtics in Summer League play, tipping off Monday night at 10:30 p.m. ET.
