Bronny James recorded three blocks and two points in his debut during the Lakers’ preseason game on Friday night. Unfortunately, LeBron James was not in uniform as the Lakers faced off against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first of their two weekend games held in the Coachella Valley.
Head coach JJ Redick decided to rest LeBron James after three intense days of training camp. The 39-year-old, who holds the record as the top scorer in NBA history, is expected to return to play against the Phoenix Suns on Sunday, a day that coincides with Bronny’s 20th birthday.
In the Lakers’ 124-107 loss to the Timberwolves, Bronny struggled initially, missing his first five shots before finally scoring a layup with just 56.9 seconds remaining. Despite the slow start, the 6-foot-2 guard showcased his defensive skills by blocking three shots, alongside collecting one rebound and one assist during his time on the court.
As he prepares to potentially make history as the first father-son duo to play in the same NBA game, Bronny understands that there is much for him to improve. His opportunity to don the Lakers’ iconic gold came when he stepped onto the floor to start the second quarter at Acrisure Arena, located just outside Palm Springs.
Teaming up with starting point guard D’Angelo Russell, Bronny’s first defensive possession saw him caught on a pick, which allowed Rob Dillingham to score an open three-pointer. Although Bronny’s subsequent pass was intercepted by Nickeil Alexander-Walker, he recovered quickly to block Alexander-Walker’s layup attempt.
During his initial six minutes on the court, Bronny missed all three of his attempts, including a three-pointer. However, he did manage to assist Rui Hachimura, who successfully hit a three-pointer from the corner during a fast break.
Returning to the game at the start of the fourth quarter, Bronny missed a jumper and had another layup attempt blocked. However, he found success in the final minute when he received a pass from fellow rookie Dalton Knecht and skillfully looped a layup over a defender for his first points.
Throughout the game, LeBron maintained a respectful distance from Bronny, allowing his son to concentrate on his performance. However, during a timeout in the second quarter, LeBron took the time to communicate with Bronny, using hand gestures to explain key points while Bronny nodded in understanding.
Bronny, who was selected as the Lakers’ second-round draft pick, previously showcased his talent in the summer league in Las Vegas. He is anticipated to play for the Lakers throughout the preseason and spend a significant amount of time in the upcoming regular season with the G League’s South Bay Lakers.
“Of course there are nerves,” Bronny expressed after the Lakers’ pregame shootaround. “But I’m just excited to go out there and learn from the people playing in front of me. If I get a chance to showcase what I can do, I’m going to do that.”
As is common for inactive players, LeBron remained on the outskirts of the Lakers’ huddles, mostly standing on the perimeter during timeouts alongside Anthony Davis, who also sat out the preseason opener. Both stars participated in training camp in El Segundo.
Redick explained the decision to rest the two superstars, stating, “We felt like, given everything they had this summer and their level of participation over the past three days, it made the most sense for them to get an off day today. We told them at shootaround to just stay off their feet.”
Looking ahead, Redick confirmed that both LeBron James and Davis would play in at least one of the weekend’s games. In their absence, Max Christie and Jaxson Hayes started against Minnesota, joining Russell, Hachimura, and Austin Reaves on the court.
The atmosphere at Friday’s game was electric, with fans filling the 22-month-old arena that also serves as the home for the American Hockey League’s Coachella Valley Firebirds. Hundreds of supporters donned gold Lakers jerseys, eager for an up-close view of the pregame warmups.
“The beautiful thing about the Lakers is that we have fans all over the world,” Redick remarked. “The desert here is an extension of our fan base in LA. It’s a great opportunity for our group to play in front of these fans tonight.”
James and Davis rested during the first of the Lakers’ six preseason games as they gradually return to competitive play following a busy summer. They were seen in street clothes before the game.
Both LeBron and Davis were part of the U.S. team that clinched a gold medal at the Paris Olympics, and they took a moment to greet Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards, their Olympic teammate, at midcourt just before tipoff.
