After struggling in his summer league debut, Los Angeles Lakers second-round draft pick Bronny James missed the team’s next game because of knee swelling.
Lakers reporter Mike Trudell posted on X that James was suffering from “minor swelling” in his left knee and sat out the back-to-back games against the Golden State Warriors as a precaution.
But Lakers fans won’t have to wait long to see James back on the court, as he’s scheduled to play in the final game of the California Classic on Wednesday against the Miami Heat.
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Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James Jr. is seen during a game against the Sacramento Kings at Chase Center on July 6, 2024 in San Francisco. (Kelly L. Cox – USA Today Sports)
James, the Lakers’ 55th pick in this year’s NBA Draft, started his first professional game on Saturday night, but didn’t have his best performance in a 108-94 loss to the Sacramento Kings.
James was on the court for 22 minutes, shooting just 2-of-9 from the field, finishing with 4 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists. He missed all three 3-point attempts and both of his free throws.
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Defensively, James was minus-15 while on the court but recorded his first steal of Summer League.
Tennessee native and Lakers first-round pick Dalton Knecht also struggled in Los Angeles, making just 3-of-12 shots but 5-of-9 free throws for just 12 points in 26 minutes.
The Lakers’ best player came off the bench, forward Blake Hinson, who scored 17 points on 5 of 7 3-pointers and two free throws.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James Jr. scores during a game against the Sacramento Kings at Chase Center on July 6, 2024 in San Francisco. (Kelly L. Cox – USA Today Sports)
It’s just one game for the younger James, the son of superstar LeBron James, who is in Las Vegas preparing for the Paris Olympics with the U.S. national team.
James said in his introductory press conference that he “didn’t have a lot of opportunities” to “show what I’m made of” during his freshman season at USC, when he averaged fewer than five points a game after suffering a heart attack during a team practice in July and getting off to a delayed start to his collegiate career.
James underwent surgery to repair a congenital heart defect.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James Jr. is seen during a game against the Sacramento Kings at Chase Center on July 6, 2024 in San Francisco. (Kelly L. Cox – USA Today Sports)
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Now, James is looking to silence the naysayers and doubters who say he shouldn’t have been drafted this year, as these games are about development and according to ESPN, James should spend the majority of this year in the G League with the South Bay Lakers.
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