Bronny James Shines in Lakers’ First Summer League Victory
LAS VEGAS — Bronny James finally made an impression on the court, scoring a three-pointer and having a solid game in the Lakers’ third Summer League matchup in Las Vegas. James’ 12 points, with nine in the first half, demonstrated the potential the Lakers saw when they picked him in the second round last month. Although his early struggles weren’t cause for concern, his good performance in the first half on Wednesday wasn’t a reason for celebration either.
The Lakers secured their first win with an 87-86 victory over the Hawks, bringing smiles to the team. “It was really encouraging,” Bronny James said. “It reminds me to keep pushing, even when things aren’t going my way… reminding the whole team to keep working and results will come.”
NBA development is rarely linear, and players often experience ups and downs. The gym was less crowded on Wednesday, partly due to the natural ebb in Summer League interest and partly because Atlanta’s top pick, Zaccharie Risacher, and the Lakers’ top choice, Dalton Knecht, were both absent. However, James’ every move, from being announced as a starter to his first three-pointer of the summer, was met with enthusiastic applause.
James played his best offensive game against the Hawks, attacking the rim early and hitting two of five three-point shots after starting 0-for-15 in the summer. “I’m just trying to keep my confidence up and play my game,” Bronny James said. “If I play my game, results like that will come.”
Knecht and James are expected to play against Cleveland on Thursday. The Lakers, eager for their first win after losing all three games in the California Classic and their first two in Vegas, started strong before Atlanta controlled the second half.
Colin Castleton, in his second season on a two-way contract, had his best game of the summer, scoring 17 points, grabbing 12 rebounds, and dishing out six assists. His late-game performance at the rim helped the team break their winless streak and gave their scrutinized second-round pick some positive momentum.
“It takes a little bit of time,” Castleton said of James. “He’s under a lot of pressure, but he has a great mindset and is a great kid and teammate. We love being around him, and everyone in the organization does too. He took great shots tonight and got into a good rhythm.”
Dan Woike is the Lakers beat writer for the Los Angeles Times, previously covering the league with a focus on Los Angeles teams.
