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Dave McMenamin, ESPN staff essayist
SAN FRANCISCO – A month after the Los Angeles Lakers rested their starters and were defeated 132-74 by the Blonde Shape Warriors in their preseason finale on Friday, rookie Bronny James closed out the exhibition roster with some personal news.
Bronny, LeBron James’ oldest son who was once voted Negative. 55 overall pick out of Los Angeles, started against the Warriors and scored 17 points on 7-of-17 shooting with four rebounds, three steals and a kill in 35 minutes.
“It’s a great feeling to go out and not think as much as I do and just play,” Bronny James later mentioned about the sport.
The 20-year-old struggled mightily in his first five preseason games, scoring eight total points on 4-of-20 shooting (0-of-7 from 3) with five returns.
Friday was once a unique tale. James took his first shot lower than a later slight start, scoring on a quick cutting layup that absorbed the rim’s touch. After all, he hit a 3-pointer and beat the shot clock with a 28-foot jumper from the front of the arc in the second quarter.
Lakers maestro JJ Redick said it was another step in building James, whom Los Angeles signed to a four-year, $7.9 million commitment during the offseason.
“I think for him and all of our younger players, every moment is a pillar,” Redick said. “Not just the good moments. The bad moments are learning opportunities. I think you have to have a level of patience, a level of optimism. I have a lot of confidence in the level of work our young people have had.
“So, once again, I feel sorry for him, I’m sure it felt good to have 17 issues… Now I’m not even remotely curious about that. It’s not even on my radar now. I mean, we’re looking to help him.” to become an excellent basketball player.
James’ preseason arc mirrored his summer league performance at the California Classic and in Las Vegas, when he struggled early before scoring in double figures in his final two games, helping the Lakers to two wins.
“[It gives me] Just a little bit of self-confidence going into the season, even if I’m not in that rotation, I’m not playing, but I’m just going to keep going, maybe G League games with that self-belief to come off the field. Marketing and playing is my sport,” James said. “I think that’s the most important part.”
The Lakers’ other bright spot in the lopsided loss was rookie Quincy Olivari, an Exhibit 10 signee who led Los Angeles with 22 points on 8-of-16 shooting (5-of-9 from 3) and 7 rebounds.
Warriors star Stephen Curry, who was ruled out of the game due to a sprained finger, spent time with James and Olivari afterward.
Olivari showed Curry a video of him as a child getting an autograph from the sniper when he attended a Warriors road game against the Dallas Mavericks. Curry gave him a pair of sneakers and he also autographed them.
“I had a lot of fun under that jersey,” Olivari said, fighting back tears as he told the story to reporters. “I just wanted to be like him, so evil. So, to meet him, he might have some admiration for me and for talking in the back. He gave me a pair of his shoes and signed. “That meant the arena was for me”.
Olivari’s Exhibit 10 deal will allow Los Angeles to retain his rights to its G League team, the South Bay Lakers. The Lakers could choose to waive one of their three two-way players to add to their NBA team at some point; However, those spots are currently occupied by big men at safety behind Anthony Davis and Jaxson Hayes, with Christian Wood injured to start the season.
“I just need an activity within the NBA,” Olivari said. “It’s the only thing I’ve sought since I was five years old, and my father always said that my greatest reward is my power. Power can never be created or destroyed, only transferred. So I transmit energy to any group that needs me and I transmit energy to each and every one of the teams.
