LAS VEGAS — Bronny James says he would welcome any assignment in his first season as a professional, as long as it provides a chance to play and improve as a basketball player.
“I’m looking forward to playing any basketball — no matter what level I’m playing at,” James said after the Los Angeles Lakers’ 99–80 loss to the Houston Rockets in LA’s opening game of the summer in Las Vegas. ” League on Friday.
James was asked about the possibility of spending time in the G League after Houston’s Cam Whitmore – the Rockets’ No. 20 overall selection in the 2023 draft – finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals.
As a rookie, Whitmore played 13 games for Houston’s G League affiliate – the Rio Grande Valley Vipers – and averaged 26.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.1 steals.
After scoring a quick six points midway through the first quarter against Houston to put LA ahead 13–10, James struggled on offense the rest of the way, finishing with eight points on 3-for-14 shooting. (0-8 points from 3) with three turnovers.
Through three Summer League games, including two in the California Classic, James is shooting 6 of 26 (23.1%) overall and 0 of 12 from 3.
“I feel like I’m in a little bit of a slump right now,” James said.
Lakers’ summer league coach Dan Johnson ignored James’ early offensive problems.
Johnson said, “Shoot, he’s going to have a long career.” “This is just the beginning. We just keep building (confidence), putting it in their minds. So, we’ve still got a long way to go.”
Johnson, who primarily coaches LA’s G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, was asked about James potentially spending time in the G League next season.
“I don’t know about it yet, so I can’t really comment on that,” Johnson said. “But I think all these guys will be in the G League at some point – draftees.”
LA rookie Dalton Knecht, selected at No. 17, led the Lakers with 25 points on 9-for-18 shooting (5-for-11 from 3), 6 rebounds and 4 assists against Houston.
James’ embrace of the G League was a change from the message shared by his agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, leading up to the draft.
Paul told ESPN’s Jonathan Givony that he informed teams that he had no interest in joining any NBA franchise on his client’s two-way contract.
Paul told ESPN, “I told teams early on that if you’re planning on bringing Bronny in, you need to know this: If you’re not going to give him a real deal, there’s nothing to talk about. Not there.” “It’s hard to get real growth on a two-way deal.”
However, James continued to play tough defense in the Houston game. He recorded two steals – bringing his total to five in Summer League so far – and often guarded the No. 3 pick in the draft, Rockets rookie Reed Shepard, across the entire length of the court.
“I’ve known Reed since fifth grade,” James said. “I know he’s a shooter, so I was just trying to get into his body and stop those 3 balls from going up. I was trying to get him all over the court and show the GM and the coaches my Was showing effort.”
In fact, Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka was sitting courtside with coach JJ Redick and his two new assistants – Scott Brooks and Nate McMillan. Sources told ESPN that Greg St. Jean — who is in the process of joining Redick’s staff — was also in attendance.
Shepard scored 23 points on 9-for-17 shooting (4-for-6 from 3), with five assists and four turnovers.
Redick joined ESPN’s broadcast of the Lakers-Rockets game and told Mark Jones and Doris Burke that James has been “fantastic” so far. The coach praised the 19-year-old’s defensive brilliance.
“We want him to put pressure on the ball,” Redick said. “I told him yesterday, I said, ‘If you get fouled, if you have 10 fouls, it’s on me. I want you to put pressure on the ball.'”
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