This past Friday, Los Angeles Lakers rookie point guard Bronny James had a standout performance, albeit in a tough loss. In their preseason finale, the Lakers faced off against the Golden State Warriors, suffering a staggering 132-74 defeat on the road.
With key players like LeBron James, Anthony Davis, D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, and Rui Hachimura resting, the Lakers gave Bronny his first-ever start. The team also missed several other contributors, including injured big men Christian Wood and Jarred Vanderbilt.
Head coach JJ Redick decided to start the 6-foot-2 guard at small forward, joining him on the court were other younger players such as Cam Reddish, Jaxson Hayes, and new first-round pick Jalen Hood-Schifino.
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Despite the heavy loss, Bronny shined offensively, scoring 17 points on 7-of-17 shooting, alongside four rebounds, three steals, and one block. This marked his breakout game in a preseason where he had struggled to find his rhythm, averaging only 4.2 points prior to this matchup.
“Tonight I was given an opportunity to showcase my offensive game, and I feel like I did that a little,” he reflected. “Confidence is the key for me right now.” The Lakers drafted Bronny with the 55th pick after a lackluster freshman season at USC.
Redick remained optimistic despite the disappointing scoreline, emphasizing that all experiences—good or bad—contribute to the players’ growth. The team has a few practices lined up before they head into their regular season opener against the revamped Minnesota Timberwolves.
“Our group is ready to play,” Redick stated. “We’ve built the foundation together.”