LAS VEGAS — Bronny James and Los Angeles Lakers As the defending champion Boston Celtics The NBA got the job done on Monday night, winning 88-74. James took to the court to thunderous applause from fans who had gathered at the Thomas & Mack Center for the final game of the third day of Summer League action. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the breakthrough performance that was expected, with many fans choosing to leave the arena before the fourth quarter began.
James had few chances to score, going 1-of-5 from the field (0-of-3 on 3-pointers). His only points came with four minutes to go, erupting in an arena. James recorded 3 rebounds, 2 points, 1 assist and 1 block in 25 minutes. James made his presence felt early with a monster block in the first quarter, getting off to a strong start defensively.
In the second half, the Lakers struggled to find their rhythm offensively, with the Celtics attacking with five men and the Lakers playing catch-up on defense. Dalton KnechtThe Lakers’ 17th draft pick out of Tennessee scored 19 points, while Max Lewis led the LA Celtics with 13 points, three rebounds and two assists. Neemias Ketarecorded 22 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks. JD Davison He added nine points and seven assists.
James shot poorly in his Las Vegas Summer League debut, going 0-of-8 on 3-pointers, finishing with just 8 points and 5 rebounds. He was visibly frustrated, telling reporters, “I’m just kind of out of it right now. My shots weren’t great today, but I just need to keep working and get better.”
James knows his limitations and acknowledges he’ll never be first choice like his father. LeBronHe has been a solid contributor to ball-dominant types throughout his career and is studying players at the NBA level who would fit his style of play.
“I often Davion Mitchell, Jrue Holiday, Derrick White“These are guys who excel in their role and do what they have to do well,” James said at the NBA Draft Combine. “My goal is not to be ‘that guy.’ There are a lot of guys in the NBA who already fill that role.”
James was the 55th pick in the draft and will need some G League experience before he can play meaningful minutes with the Lakers, and while the organization is willing to be patient with his development, he shows promise as an on-ball defender and with the athleticism to switch on the perimeter and drop back to block shots despite his inconsistent shooting.
Summer League doesn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things, but it’s a great wake-up call for James and what he needs to develop and work on between now and the start of his rookie season. The positive takeaways from the first few games are that he’s not lost on the court and is hitting shots well from beyond the arc. The Lakers knew what they were doing when they drafted Bronny and the Crypto.com Arena will be packed every time LeBron and Bronny step on the court together this season.
