NBA rookie guard Bronny James scored a preseason-high 17 factors within the Los Angeles Lakers’ 132-74 blowout loss towards the Golden State Warriors on Friday night time.
Bronny, the eldest son of LeBron James who was picked No. 55 within the draft by the Lakers, began towards the Warriors and put up 17 factors on 7-of-17 taking pictures with 4 rebounds, three steals, and one block in 35 minutes.
“It only a nice feeling to go on the market and never suppose as a lot as I do and simply play,” Bronny James mentioned after the sport. The USC product had struggled in his first 5 preseason video games.
Bronny James pours in 17 PTS, 4 REB, and three STL within the @Lakers‘ remaining #NBAPreseason sport! pic.twitter.com/OGVSH00Pex
— NBA (@NBA) October 19, 2024
Getting into Friday’s matchup, the 20-year-old had scored eight factors whole on simply 4-for-20 taking pictures (0-for-7 from 3-point vary) with 5 turnovers. He lastly had considerably of a breakout efficiency at Golden State.
James made his first shot lower than a minute after tipoff, scoring on a chopping layup whereas taking contact on the rim. Within the second quarter, he then linked on a triple, beating the shot clock with a 28-foot jumper from the highest of the arc.
Los Angeles Lakers rookie Bronny James began off sluggish in the course of the NBA Summer season League
Lakers coach JJ Redick mentioned it was a step in the precise path for the event of James.
“I believe for him and all our youthful gamers, all of the moments are constructing blocks,” Redick mentioned. “Not simply the nice moments. The unhealthy moments are studying alternatives. I believe you need to have a stage of endurance, a stage of optimism. I’m very assured within the stage of labor that our younger guys have had.
“So once more, I believe for him, I’m certain it felt good to have 17 factors. … I’m not even remotely involved about that. It’s not even on my radar. Like, we’re attempting to assist him develop into an incredible basketball participant.”
Bronny James is 0/14 from three within the Summer season League.
— School Basketball Report (@CBKReport) July 16, 2024
Bronny James’ underwhelming preseason outing mirrored his displaying throughout summer season league play on the California Basic and in Las Vegas, the place he began off sluggish offensively earlier than scoring in double digits in his final two video games.
“[It gives me] just a bit little bit of confidence going into the season despite the fact that I may not be in that rotation, may not be enjoying, however simply going into follow, perhaps G League video games with that confidence in myself to go on the market and play my sport,” James mentioned. “I really feel like that’s the largest a part of it.”
In 25 video games (six begins) at USC final season, James averaged 4.8 factors, 2.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 19.3 minutes per contest whereas taking pictures 36.6% from the sphere, 26.7% from deep, and 67.6% on the free throw line.
