Bronny James – Ready for any level with Lakers after summer

LAS VEGAS — Bronny James says he’ll welcome any task in his first season as knowledgeable, so long as it comes with an opportunity to play and enhance as a basketball participant.

“I am simply wanting ahead to any basketball I play, it doesn’t matter what degree I am enjoying at,” James stated after the Lakers’ 99-80 loss to the Houston Rockets in Los Angeles’ opening sport within the Las Vegas Summer season League on Friday.

James was requested about the potential of spending time within the G League after Houston’s Cam Whitmore, the No. 20 choose within the 2023 draft, completed with 20 factors, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals.

As a rookie, Whitmore performed 13 video games for Houston’s G League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, and averaged 26.8 factors, 6.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and a pair of.1 steals per sport.

After scoring a fast six factors to place Los Angeles up 13-10 halfway by way of the primary quarter in opposition to Houston, James struggled on offense the remainder of the best way, ending with eight factors on 3-for-14 taking pictures (0-for-8 from 3) with three turnovers.

By means of three summer time league video games, together with two within the California Basic, James is taking pictures 6-for-26 general (23.1%) and 0-for-12 from 3.

“I simply really feel like I am in somewhat stoop proper now,” James stated.

Dane Johnson, the Lakers’ summer time league coach, shrugged off James’ early offensive woes.

“Shoot, he will have a protracted profession,” Johnson stated. “That is just the start. We simply maintain instilling [confidence], maintain that of their heads. So we have got a protracted option to go.”

Johnson, who primarily coaches Los Angeles’ G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, was requested about James probably spending time within the G League subsequent season.

“I do not learn about that but, so I can not actually touch upon that,” Johnson stated. “However I feel all these guys are going to be within the G League in some unspecified time in the future — the draftees.”

Dalton Knecht, an L.A. rookie taken with the No. 17 choose, led the Lakers with 25 factors on 9-for-18 taking pictures (5-for-11 from 3), 6 rebounds and 4 assists in opposition to the Rockets.

James’ embrace of the G League was a shift from the messaging shared by his agent, Wealthy Paul of Klutch Sports activities, main as much as the draft. Paul informed ESPN’s Jonathan Givony that he knowledgeable groups he had no real interest in his consumer becoming a member of any NBA franchise on a two-way contract.

“I bought the phrase out early to groups that if you happen to plan on bringing Bronny in, this is what it’s essential know: When you will not give him an actual deal, there’s nothing to speak about,” Paul informed ESPN. “It is arduous to get actual improvement on a two-way deal.”

James continued to play arduous protection within the Houston sport. He recorded two steals — growing his complete to 5 in the summertime league — and infrequently guarded Rockets rookie Reed Sheppard, the No. 3 choose within the draft, the complete size of the court docket.

“I’ve recognized Reed since fifth grade,” James stated. “I do know he is a shooter, so I used to be simply attempting to get in his physique and stop these 3-balls from going up. I used to be attempting to choose him up full court docket and exhibiting my effort to the GM and coaches.”

Lakers vp of basketball operations and common supervisor Rob Pelinka was sitting courtside, together with coach JJ Redick and his two new assistants, Scott Brooks and Nate McMillan. Greg St. Jean — who’s within the means of being added to Redick’s workers, sources informed ESPN — was in attendance too.

Sheppard scored 23 factors on 9-for-17 taking pictures (4-for-6 from 3) with 5 assists and 4 turnovers.

Redick joined ESPN’s broadcast of the Lakers-Rockets sport and informed Mark Jones and Doris Burke that James has been “terrific” so far. The coach complimented the 19-year-old’s defensive flashes.

“We wish him pressuring the ball,” Redick stated. “I informed him yesterday, I stated, ‘When you get blown by, in case you have 10 fouls, that is on me. I need you up pressuring the ball.'”