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Bronny James, the son of NBA all-time leading scorer LeBron James, delivered the best performance of his young career on Friday, scoring 17 points in the Los Angeles Lakers’ final preseason game. In his first preseason start, Bronny went 7-for-17 from the field, contributing four rebounds, one assist, three steals, and a block. Unfortunately, the short-handed Lakers, resting several key players including his father, faced a heavy 132-74 defeat against the Golden State Warriors.
Multiple-time All-Star Anthony Davis, D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, and Rui Hachimura were also sidelined as first-time head coach JJ Redick gave opportunities to reserve players and rookies. The Warriors, despite missing star point guard Steph Curry, dominated the game, jumping out to an 18-point lead by the end of the first quarter and maintaining control throughout.
Bronny's struggles
Before this game, Bronny had struggled offensively, averaging just 1.6 points per game with a shooting percentage of 20% in his first five preseason appearances. He had recorded more turnovers than field goals in those outings. However, he showcased his potential on Friday, hitting his first three-pointer of the preseason and throwing down an impressive alley-oop dunk from fellow rookie Quincy Olivari.
“I feel like I was given an amazing opportunity to go and showcase what I can do down the road…it’s just a great moment for me,” Bronny said after the game, highlighting his eagerness to find and understand his role on the team.
Coach Redick emphasized the importance of growth for Bronny and the younger players, stating, “For (James) and all our younger players, all the moments are building blocks. Not just the good moments, the bad moments are learning opportunities. I think you have to have a level of patience, a level of optimism. I am very confident in the level of work that our young guys have had. For him, I’m sure it felt good to have 17 points – I’m not even remotely concerned about that. It’s not even on my radar. We’re trying to help him grow into a great basketball player.”
End of pre-season games
Olivari led the Lakers with a game-high 22 points, while Jonathan Kuminga scored 17 points for the Warriors. Brandin Podziemski added 16 points in a balanced scoring effort for Golden State.
As the 2024/25 NBA regular season approaches, it kicks off on Tuesday, October 22, with the reigning champion Boston Celtics hosting the revamped New York Knicks. The Lakers will also play on opening night against the Minnesota Timberwolves, while the Warriors face the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday. The highly anticipated first regular-season matchup between the Lakers and Warriors is set for Christmas Day, promising to be a thrilling showdown.
