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Dave McMenamin, ESPN Workers Author
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 trying ahead to any basketball I play, it doesn’t matter what degree I am enjoying at,” James mentioned after the Lakers‘ 99-80 loss to the Houston Rockets in Los Angeles’ opening recreation within the Las Vegas Summer time League on Friday.
James was requested about the opportunity 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 recreation.
After scoring a fast six factors to place Los Angeles up 13-10 halfway by means of the primary quarter towards 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.
Via three summer time league video games, together with two within the California Traditional, James is taking pictures 6-for-26 general (23.1%) and 0-for-12 from 3.
“I simply really feel like I am in just a little stoop proper now,” James mentioned.
Dane Johnson, the Lakers’ summer time league coach, shrugged off James’ early offensive woes.
“Shoot, he’ll have a protracted profession,” Johnson mentioned. “That is only the start. We simply hold instilling [confidence], hold that of their heads. So we have a protracted method to go.”
Johnson, who primarily coaches Los Angeles’ G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, was requested about James doubtlessly spending time within the G League subsequent season.
“I do not find out about that but, so I am unable to actually touch upon that,” Johnson mentioned. “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 towards 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 instructed ESPN’s Jonathan Givony that he knowledgeable groups he had little 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 in the event you plan on bringing Bronny in, here is what it’s essential know: When you will not give him an actual deal, there’s nothing to speak about,” Paul told ESPN. “It is onerous to get actual growth on a two-way deal.”
James continued to play onerous protection within the Houston recreation. He recorded two steals — rising 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 courtroom.
“I’ve recognized Reed since fifth grade,” James mentioned. “I do know he is a shooter, so I used to be simply making an attempt to get in his physique and forestall these 3-balls from going up. I used to be making an attempt to choose him up full courtroom and displaying 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 technique of being added to Redick’s workers, sources instructed 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 recreation and instructed Mark Jones and Doris Burke that James has been “terrific” so far. The coach complimented the 19-year-old’s defensive flashes.
“We would like him pressuring the ball,” Redick mentioned. “I instructed him yesterday, I mentioned, ‘When you get blown by, when you have 10 fouls, that is on me. I need you up pressuring the ball.'”
