Bronny James scored four points in 21 minutes, 43 seconds of play in his first game as a Laker in a 108-94 loss to the Sacramento Kings in a California Classic game in San Francisco Saturday.
The Lakers’ second-round choice in last month’s draft and oldest son of LeBron James was among the starters, making 2 of 9 shots, including missing all three 3-point shots, missing both free throws, grabbing two rebounds, and having two assists.
“Every first game that I step on the next level there’s always some butterflies in my stomach, but as soon as the ball tips and we go a couple times down it all goes away and I’m just playing basketball,” James said. “It’s always going to be there but get through it.”
The elder James, training in Las Vegas with the U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team, said his son’s summer statistics don’t matter.
“I just hope for (him to get) his feet wet in the NBA — the pace of the game, the speed of the game, the physicality of the game,” the elder James said. “But what he does in the California Classic and Summer League, it doesn’t matter if he plays well and it doesn’t matter if he doesn’t play well. I just want him to continue to grow. Practices, film sessions, his individual workouts.”
Tbe game was the first of three in five days in the California Classic for the Lakers summer league team, including Sunday against the Golden State Warriors’ team. That will be followed by four in seven days in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas beginning Friday and more, with the exact number based on how the Lakers fare.
“Hopefully, he’ll play all the games, we’ll see how it goes,” said South Bay Lakers coach Dane Johnson, who is coaching the summer league team. “We’re going to try to integrate him and get him as many reps as we can. He needs more experience playing.”
Dalton Knecht, the Lakers’ first-round draft choice, was their starting shooting guard Saturday, scoring 12 points in 26:14 on 3-for-12 shooting, including 1 of 4 3-point shots, and 5 of 7 free throws.
Both James and Knecht finished at minus-15, meaning the Lakers were outscored by 15 when either of them were on the court.
Forward Blake Hinson, an undrafted rookie free agent whose signing to a two-way contract was announced Friday, led the Lakers with 17 points in 18:54.
Sacramento’s Adonis Arms, a 6-foot-6 guard who spent the past two seasons in the NBA G League, led all scorers with 30 points in 32:16 on 12 of 17 shooting and making 7 of 8 free throws.
The game at Chase Center was played with four 10-minute quarters, two minutes less than usual.