LeBron’s son debuts for Lakers in pre-season loss

PALM DESERT, California (AP):

BRONNY JAMES played in his first NBA pre-season game on Friday night, but LeBron James wasn’t in uniform with him when the Lakers hosted Minnesota in the first of Los Angeles’ two weekend games in the Coachella Valley.

Lakers coach JJ Redick elected to hold out LeBron James against the Timberwolves after three hard days of training camp, but the 39 year-old top scorer in NBA history is likely to play against Phoenix today — which just happens to be Bronny’s 20th birthday.

Bronny James finished with two points in the Lakers’ 124-107 loss to the Timberwolves, missing his first five shots before making a layup with 56.9 seconds to play. But the 6-foot-2-inch guard also blocked three shots, and picked up one rebound and one assist while playing the first half of the second quarter and most of the fourth, finishing with 16 minutes of action.

“I liked what I saw from Bronny,” Redick said.

“Truthfully, he’s so easy to coach, and he’s got great soul and a great energy about him. I like being around him. I’m rooting for him. He’s a good player that we’re happy to have in our programme.”

Bronny James didn’t speak to reporters after his debut.

Before they become the first father and son to play in the same NBA game, Bronny James knows he has plenty of work to do. He got his first chance to play in Lakers gold when he took the floor to begin the second quarter at Acrisure Arena outside Palm Springs.

Playing alongside starting Lakers point guard D’Angelo Russell, Bronny got caught on a pick on his first defensive possession, allowing Rob Dillingham to hit an open three-pointer. Bronny’s pass was then intercepted by Nickeil Alexander-Walker on the other end, but Bronny hustled back and blocked his layup attempt.

“He can do some things defensively at his size that are really unique, and he can, I think, turn into a really disruptive defender, and that manifested itself,” Redick said.

“On the offensive end, he’s still kind of figuring out who he is, and that’s our job as a player development programme to build him up.”

Bronny missed all three of his shots during his first six minutes of action, including a three-pointer. He picked up an assist when he found Rui Hachimura for a three-pointer from the corner on a fast break.

Bronny returned for the start of the fourth quarter, missing a jumper and having a layup attempt blocked. In the final minute, he got a pass from fellow rookie Dalton Knecht and looped a layup over a defender for his first points.

Redick said Bronny earned playing time in the Lakers’ pre-season opener with three strong performances in practice this week.