Lakers Notes: LeBron, Doncic, Ayton, Bronny
LeBron James‘ future beyond this season, whether with the Lakers or elsewhere, has been a subject of speculation in recent months. And much of that speculation has centered on a specific hypothetical, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, who says there is widespread talk about James returning to the Cavaliers for a final reunion with his hometown team.
“I don’t know if LeBron knows what he’s going to do,” MacMahon said on NBA Today (YouTube link; hat tip to RealGM. “I certainly don’t know what he’s going to do. I know what the rampant speculation is around the league and that is this summer there’s going to be a reunion and potentially a retirement tour for the ages back home again with the Cleveland Cavaliers next year.”
While the financial realities of adding James could be complicated for the Cavs, he would fit a positional need, as Cleveland has long struggled to find a permanent wing starter to play between Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley.
James has also been linked to the Warriors and Knicks, though other teams would surely have interest if he became available on the free agent market.
We have more from the Lakers:
- James added another record to his collection on Thursday, becoming the oldest player in NBA history to record a triple-double, writes ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. The record had previously been held by Karl Malone, who was 40 years and 127 days old when he accomplished the feat. James was 41 years and 44 days old on Thursday as he put together a 28-point, 12-assist, 10-rebound performance to lead Los Angeles to a 124-104 victory over the Mavs. “To be able to do it and get the win is, that means more to me than anything,” James said. “But I’m very blessed to play this game, play it at a high level.”
- Luka Doncic was traded to the Lakers just over a year ago, a move that has had massive implications for the franchise — notably, switching from a team built around James’ timeline to one built around Doncic’s, writes Kevin Pelton for ESPN. As Pelton notes, this year’s record of 33-21 is not dissimilar to the team’s record last year, when they were 32-19 after winning the first game of the Doncic era. But while the team’s record and the Slovenian star’s statistical production might not be vastly different from their pre-trade levels, L.A.’s team-building approach has shifted to be more future-facing. After previously being very aggressive to put complementary pieces around James, the team has chosen not to send out first-round picks since the voided Mark Williams deal collapsed, Pelton points out. The Lakers are prioritizing flexibility, and will head into the 2026/27 season with just four players on guaranteed deals: Doncic, Dalton Knecht, Jake LaRavia, and Jarred Vanderbilt, though Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart, and Austin Reaves hold player options.
- Doncic remains day-t0-day for the Lakers with a left hamstring injury, Benjamin Royer writes for the OC Register. “He’s progressed really good,” coach JJ Redick said of the decision to sit him on Thursday’s game against the Mavericks. “I think part of him, you know, wanted to push to get back part of the break, but, you know, we just got to be cautious with the soft tissue injuries … We all feel comfortable with the decision to hold him out and should be good to go post-All-Star (break).” Redick declined to comment on whether Doncic needed to check off certain recovery boxes before he could suit up for Sunday’s festivities, but Marc Stein reports that the star guard is expected to play a short stint (Twitter link).
- Ayton underwent imaging due to the lingering right knee soreness that has caused him to miss the last two games, reports Dan Woike of The Athletic (Twitter link). The tests came back clean and the Lakers are hopeful that the time off will allow the veteran center to recover and return to play following the All-Star break, per Woike.
- Bronny James‘ counting stats might not look wildly different in year two than they did in his rookie season, but he can feel his own growth when he’s on the court, Royer notes in a separate story. “(I) feel different. Feel way more comfortable,” Bronny said. “My teammates believe in me, my coaches believe in me. That’s all I’ve wanted. It’s just good to get out there and take advantage of the minutes I get.” The younger James had his best game of the season on Tuesday, recording 12 points and six assists in 25 minutes and even taking some matchups against Victor Wembanyama that impressed Redick. “In terms of the physicality we wanted on defense, he had two really good possessions in the first half against Wemby,” Redick said. While his shot has been much more efficient this season, James knows that if he wants to carve out a role on this Lakers team, it will start on the defensive end.
Jeanie Buss Reportedly Considered Trading LeBron James
Lakers governor Jeanie Buss harbored resentment toward LeBron James and considered trading him at one point, ESPN’s Baxter Holmes claims in a lengthy examination of the state of the franchise while it was under control of the Buss siblings.
Sources tell Holmes that Buss privately complained about James’ “outsized ego” and the influence that he and Klutch Sports exercised over the organization after he arrived in 2018. She also resented the idea that James was celebrated for joining the Lakers in free agency, rather than team leaders being praised for signing him. According to Holmes, team sources have said for years that James’ camp informed Lakers brass in 2017 that he was planning to come to L.A. when his contract expired.
Buss was particularly upset about the fallout from the ill-fated Russell Westbrook trade in the summer of 2021, Holmes adds. The Lakers added the former MVP to appease James, but he was mostly able to escape responsibility for the deal after it went bad. L.A. missed the playoffs during Westbrook’s lone full season with the team, and he was pulled from the starting lineup and then traded the following year.
In 2022, Buss considered not negotiating an extension with James or even trading him, with the Clippers mentioned as a possibility, according to Holmes’ sources. He eventually received a two-year, $104MM contract in July 2024 that included a no-trade clause. Buss also believes James didn’t display enough gratitude for the team’s decision to take his son, Bronny James, with the 55th pick in the 2024 draft, Holmes adds.
Buss issued a statement to The Athletic in response to the claims made by Holmes, relays Sam Amick (Twitter link). “It’s really not right, given all the great things LeBron has done for the Lakers, that he has to be pulled into my family drama,” it reads. “To say that it wasn’t appreciated is just not true and completely unfair to him.”
Holmes touches on many more subjects in the in-depth piece, which is worth reading in full. Here are a few highlights:
- Joey Buss and Jesse Buss tried to convince their siblings to sell a smaller portion of the family’s 66% controlling interest in the team. They presented the plan to the Lakers’ chief financial officer and chief legal counsel as a way to provide cash for the older Buss siblings while maintaining control of the franchise. However, they learned at meetings last summer about Jeanie’s intention to sell most of the family’s stake to Mark Walter at a $10 billion valuation. The family retains 17% ownership, just above the 15% required to allow Jeanie to remain in her role as governor for the next five years.
- Sources tell Holmes that Jeanie made the decision to sell because she wasn’t convinced that the family could continue to keep the Lakers competitive in a league where an increasing number of teams are owned by billionaires. Joey and Jesse reportedly disagreed with that logic because of restrictions in the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement that place limitations on the amount that teams can spend.
- Holmes states that several members of Jeanie’s inner circle received large bonuses as a result of the sale, including former player Kurt Rambis and his wife Linda Rambis. A person with knowledge of the agreement told Holmes that Linda received $24MM and Kurt got $8MM, amounts that were chosen based on Kobe Bryant‘s uniform numbers.
- Joey and Jesse were told that “new ownership” was responsible for their dismissal from front office roles in November, but sources tell Holmes they discovered that Jeanie made the decision. “Dr. (Jerry) Buss’ idea was for Joey and I to run basketball operations one day,” Jesse said in a statement. “But Jeanie has effectively kept herself in place with her siblings fired.”
Lakers Notes: Jesse Buss, Scouts, Bronny, Thiero, Offense
After being removed from his role as the Lakers‘ assistant general manager on Thursday, Jesse Buss told Dan Woike of The Athletic that he’ll always be a fan of the team, but that he hasn’t spoken to to general manager Rob Pelinka or his sister Jeanie Buss in five months and feels as if his voice was diminished in recent years.
“I kind of felt siloed quite a bit, dating back to before, I guess, the 2023 draft,” Jesse explained. “And I kind of didn’t think much of it. But as time went on and there was a lack of communication between not only my sister and I, but the organization as a whole while I was combating various health issues, I kind of felt like the writing was on the wall. The sale of the team happening kind of more or less just solidified it in my mind. And I just more or less expected (to be let go).
“Obviously this is a job I’ve loved for a very long time. And I love this organization. I love the fans. I love the city of Los Angeles. It’s pretty much all I’ve known my entire life. … When it comes down to it, even if I’m not part of the organization in any capacity, I’m always gonna root for this team. And obviously I root for players that Joey and I had a part of bringing in on the team, such as Austin (Reaves) and Rui (Hachimura).”
According to Jesse, his father – the late Jerry Buss – envisioned having him and Joey work their way up the basketball operations department and eventually run the Lakers’ front office.
“That was something that was discussed over 15 years ago,” Jesse said. “And what he had told me at the time was that he wanted Jimmy (Buss) to retire at some point within the next five to seven years, so this was about 2010, and he started to slowly incorporate Joey and I into the day-to-day operations. And eventually, I think the plan was (that) Jeanie was gonna run the business side and Joey and I were gonna help run the basketball operations department.”
Jesse became a key member of the Lakers’ scouting department who had a “large amount of input” on the club’s draft picks, and he tells Woike that he was also consulted on certain free agent decisions and potential trades over the years. However, he said his involvement with the team “came in waves” before declining in recent years.
“Oftentimes within the organization, it kind of felt like I was being treated like I was working against them,” Jesse said. “And, I guess you could say, like an enemy. But the only thing I ever wanted was the most success for this team. The credit, or whoever was involved with those decisions, it didn’t really matter as long as it was the best possible thing for the Lakers.”
Here’s more on the Lakers:
- Besides Jesse and Joey Buss, other scouting personnel let go by the Lakers on Thursday included scouts Sean Buss and Aaron Jackson, international scout Can Pelister, and scout support and strategy coordinator Moses Zapata, tweets ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
- With a fully healthy roster, the Lakers have assigned a pair of young players – guard Bronny James and forward Adou Thiero – to the G League, according to Khobi Price of the Southern California News Group (Twitter link). Both players could suit up for the South Bay Lakers on Friday when Los Angeles’ affiliate hosts the Santa Cruz Warriors.
- In a story for The Orange County Register, Price explores how LeBron James‘ return on Tuesday helped provide a glimpse of the Lakers’ offensive upside going forward. While Utah – which ranks 25th in the NBA in defensive rating – wasn’t exactly a formidable opponent, the fact that the Lakers set season highs in points (140) and efficiency (59.5% shooting) while making so many of their offensive possessions look “effortless” was a very encouraging sign, Price writes.
Lakers Notes: Hachimura, Thiero, Game Ball, LeBron, AD
Rui Hachimura missed his first game of the season on Saturday in Milwaukee due to a sore left calf, an issue Lakers head coach JJ Redick said the starting forward had been dealing with “all week,” writes Khobi Price of The Southern California News Group.
“With a back-to-back, probably just smart to hold him out,” Redick said. “But I don’t think it will be a lingering thing. We’ll miss him. It feels like every game I’m coaching, it’s this way. So, nothing changes.”
Marcus Smart (viral illness) was also ruled out of Saturday’s game, with Bronny James and Jake LaRavia sliding into the starting lineup. It was James’ first start of the season and second of his career, Price notes. The 2024 second-round pick has been part of the rotation amid backcourt injuries this fall, though he only played 10 minutes against the Bucks, below his season average of 11.9 MPG.
Here’s more on the Lakers:
- Rookie forward Adou Thiero made his NBA debut in Saturday’s lopsided win, recording four points and one rebound in a little under five minutes of action. As Dave McMenamin of ESPN details, while the outcome of the game was never in question, there was a minor controversy after the final buzzer ended. Jarred Vanderbilt was holding the game ball to give it to Thiero for scoring his first career points, but apparently crew chief Pat Fraher had other plans, as he took the ball from Vanderbilt and gave it to a Bucks team attendant, telling players it belonged to Milwaukee. “[Fraher] said he’s going to write me up,” Vanderbilt told ESPN. “I don’t know what the hell he’s talking about. These refs, they just want to have their power or something, I don’t know. I don’t know what he was reaching for. That’s been a thing since way before I was in the league. What, was he going to take the ball home or something?“
- According to McMenamin, Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo intervened at center court, taking the ball from the attendant and handing it to Luka Doncic, who presented the ball to Thiero in the Lakers’ locker room. “At first I didn’t realize it was all for me,” said Thiero, who was selected No. 36 overall in June’s draft. “But I’m very thankful for this team. I think that shows how connected we are and how much we want each other to succeed.”
- LeBron James, who practiced two times with the team’s G League affiliate in recent days, could make his season debut as soon as Tuesday, McMenamin adds. The 40-year-old star has been recovering from sciatica on his right side.
- Before sending him to Dallas in February as part of the Doncic blockbuster, the Lakers quietly gauged trade interest in Anthony Davis last December, per Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints. Siegel hears those December conversations centered around the possibility of dealing Davis during the 2025 offseason, not before the February trade deadline, but obviously things changed when the Lakers were presented with the opportunity to acquire Doncic.
Lakers Notes: Bronny, Reaves, Offense, Vincent
The Lakers‘ injury woes are providing an opportunity for Bronny James, who’s seeing regular minutes for the first time in his career, writes
“Ready to take advantage of the times that I get when our guys are out,” James said. “I’m going to stay aggressive.”
Coach JJ Redick attributes James’ improvement to his ability to adjust to the speed of the NBA game. Redick wants his players to determine whether they’re going to shoot, dribble or pass within a half-second of receiving the ball, and James wasn’t ready as a rookie to make those quick decisions.
“He’s now developed where he’s got a great point-five mentality,” Redick said. “He’s catch-and-shoot ready at all times.”
There’s more on the Lakers:
- Austin Reaves missed his third straight game on Saturday, but it doesn’t sound like he’ll be out of action much longer, Nguyen adds in the same piece. Medical imaging revealed that he has a mild right groin strain, but Reddick told reporters that Reaves’ pain level is “really low.” Nguyen states that Reaves plans to play golf during the five-game road trip and he could be back in action before the Lakers return home.
- Khobi Price of The Orange County Register examines how the offense has been able to succeed despite the absence of LeBron James, who remains sidelined with sciatica. Luka Doncic (40 PPG) and Reaves (31.1) have led the attack, but the Lakers can also rely on scoring depth, with Deandre Ayton (17.5), Rui Hachimura (16.7), Jake LaRavia (12.1) and Marcus Smart (10.3) all averaging in double figures.
- Redick said Gabe Vincent is making progress in his recovery from a sprained left ankle that has sidelined him since October 26, Price tweets. Vincent hasn’t done any contact work yet, but Redick is hoping his two- to four-week recovery timeline is closer to three weeks.
Lakers Notes: Hayes, Starting Lineup, Injuries, Lobs
Jaxson Hayes is dealing with a light sprain in his right wrist, but believes that he’ll be ready to go for the Lakers‘ regular season opener on Tuesday, reports Dan Woike of The Athletic (via Twitter).
Hayes left Friday’s preseason game early after injuring his wrist, but he says he’s ready to play through the injury. He is slotted to serve as the primary backup to Deandre Ayton this season after starting a career-high 35 games for the Lakers last season.
Hayes also spoke at greater length about his intention to become eligible for a Slovenian passport and play international basketball alongside Lakers’ teammate Luka Doncic, reports Dave McMenamin of ESPN (Twitter video link).
“We have the same agent, and my parents and his parents are all kind of working on it right now,” Hayes said. “But they came to me with the idea… I wanted to play on that stage, and I’m gonna do whatever it takes to get on that stage.”
Hayes added that Doncic and his family had been discussing the idea with him for the last year and a half. Woike confirmed (via Twitter) that Hayes is serious about the plan.
We have more Lakers news:
- The Lakers unleashed their LeBron James-less opening night starting five in the preseason finale, writes McMenamin. The unit featured Gabe Vincent and Rui Hachimura alongside Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Ayton. McMenamin reports that Vincent, who averaged 16.2 points on 55.6% shooting from three during his strong preseason, was informed of his promotion on Friday morning. “I do think in that lineup there’s lot of shooting around Luka and [Ayton], and Gabe is another ball-handler, another tough defender, said head coach JJ Redick. “I think he fits in well, but you have to take a look at every matchup we play against and have to make a decision there.” The Lakers went just 1-5 during the preseason.
- Redick shared some minor injury updates on Sunday afternoon, as relayed via Twitter by SoCal News Group’s Khobi Price. Chris Manon, on a two-way deal, was a full participant after previously suffering a Grade 2 ankle sprain. Bronny James and rookie Adou Thiero were modified participants as they look to return from ankle and knee injuries, respectively.
- There’s a specific part of the Lakers’ offensive approach that Redick is concerned about heading into the season. “We’ve got to figure out our lobs,” Redick said, as reported by Price (Twitter video link). Redick added that a good lob connection is based on “concentration plus control.” Reaves expanded on that, discussing the difference between running the two-man game with Ayton as opposed to Hayes or Anthony Davis. “Every player is not the same,” he said. “I can throw some lobs to Jaxson that I can’t throw to DA. I can throw pocket passes to DA that I can’t throw to Jaxson. So it’s just reading personnel on the court and getting reps every single day together.”
Lakers Notes: Ayton, LeBron, Vanderbilt, Bronny
Deandre Ayton only scored one point in 18 minutes on Friday night in his first game with the Lakers, but he preferred to focus on his two blocked shots, which he said are an indication of his commitment to defense, writes Khobi Price of The Orange County Register. Ayton, who signed with L.A. this summer after reaching a buyout in Portland, said his primary focus is providing a defensive presence in the middle.
“I wanted to show the team I’m more committed on the defensive end more than the offense in a way,” Ayton said. “Like I say from the get-go, I’m not really here for numbers. I’m just here for whatever the Lakers really want me to do. And the main objective is really protecting that rim and closing out our possessions. And I had fun man, just blocking some shots, just being that anchor and seeing how the guys responded to me.”
Ayton, who missed both his field goal attempts, added that he’s not expecting to take a certain number of shots each night and is willing to let Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves determine his role in the offense.
“(Coach JJ Redick) is trusting these dudes to be our main primary ball handlers and me being the big man in the paint,” Ayton said. “I’m absorbing all of that. It (will) probably be hard not to touch the ball with them great play-makers, to be honest.”
There’s more on the Lakers:
- James missed Friday’s game while recovering from a glute issue, and Redick said the Lakers are taking a “little bit longer of a ramp-up” with their 40-year-old star as they try to get him ready for opening night, Price adds. “For him, it’s different in Year 23,” Redick said. “A normal return-to-play protocol, we try to get 1-on-1, 2-on-2, 3-on-3 exposures versus coaches. And that eventually gets to 3-on-3 live. He knows his body. And so we’ll work with him. We’ll work with (James’ longtime trainer) Mike (Mancias) on making sure he gets a point of comfort where he can sort of be a full participant. But he’s been on the court every day. He’s been in the weight room, continuing to get his body ready.”
- Jarred Vanderbilt made an impact on defense on Friday, displaying why Lakers officials have been raving about him in training camp, observes Law Murray of The Athletic. Injuries have limited Vanderbilt to 29 and 36 games the past two seasons, but Murray suggests he could challenge Rui Hachimura for the starting power forward spot if he can improve his outside shooting.
- Bronny James suffered through a rough shooting night on Friday, going 1-of-12 from the field, but Redick gave him a vote of confidence and cited his improvement over the past year, per Greg Beacham of The Associated Press. “He is so much more comfortable and confident as a player,” Redick said. “Skill-wise, read-wise, all of those things have improved, but there’s a big difference between improving those things in individual workouts and small group settings, and doing it 5-on-5. … He’s a totally different player than he was a year ago. I thought the stuff that he did down in the G League last year was huge for him in developing a comfort level in playing at this level.”
Pacific Notes: Bronny, Suns, Saric
Lakers guard Bronny James is adjusting to life ahead of his second pro season, as he tells Dave McMenamin of ESPN. James, who still deals with occasional health issues after suffering a cardiac arrest in the summer of 2023, is looking to improve his conditioning and develop his defense. After his second Summer League stint, the 6’2″ USC alum seems to feel a bit more secure in who he is and his own upside.
“My confidence level is, for sure, taking a leap,” James told McMenamin.
James’ head coach JJ Redick, a rookie in his own role in 2024/25, believes the 20-year-old can potentially crack the team’s rotation sooner rather than later — provided his fitness improves.
“The biggest thing for Bronny is that he has to get in elite shape,” Redick told McMenamin. “That’s the barrier of entry for him right now. And if he does that, I think he’s got a chance to be a really fantastic player in the NBA.”
Lakers athletic trainer Mike Mancias explained how James, son of All-Star L.A. teammate LeBron James, can continue to build on his conditioning.
“His conditioning is like a basketball 401(k),” Guthrie said. “It is all about daily deposits… That 401(k) will be great because he’s been putting in the work starting now, starting in the offseason, focusing on his diet, focusing on sleep, focusing on all those things. That’s all part of conditioning. It’s all tied together.”
There’s more out of the Pacific Division:
- Former Suns director of safety, security and risk management Gene Traylor has been fired by Phoenix after he sued the club for discrimination, harassment and retaliation, sources inform Baxter Holmes of ESPN. “Mr. Traylor was terminated from his position as a security manager because an independent, outside investigation concluded that he violated company policies with respect to confidential information about security operations and he was intentionally untruthful with the investigator,” Suns senior VP of communications Stacey Mitch said in a statement to Holmes.
- New Kings center Dario Saric is determined to play meaningful minutes for Sacramento after riding pine with Denver for most of 2024/25, per Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops. The 31-year-old spoke with gathered reporters after a practice with the Croatian national team, as the club gears up for the second round of the 2027 FIBA World Cup pre-qualifying matchups. “I went to Sacramento, passed medicals, talked to the coach and general manager,” Saric said. “I received positive feedback. I hope to get minutes at the four and five positions. But you never know for sure. I thought I was going to play in Denver too, but I ended up sitting on the bench.” Instead, the 6’10” vet appeared in just 16 games for the Nuggets.
- In case you missed it, restricted free agent Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga remains frustrated by his stalemated contract talks with Golden State.
Pacific Notes: Paul, Beal, LeBron, Bronny, Clifford, Goodwin
The Clippers signed Chris Paul and Bradley Beal, who’ve both worn No. 3 throughout their careers, but there won’t be a battle over who gets the number in L.A., writes Jay Dieffenbach of The Arizona Republic. Entering possibly the final season of his long career, Paul will be able to keep his signature number and his “CP3” nickname.
“Once Brad heard it’s a possibility Chris was coming, he said, ‘I want to give him my number,’ and I don’t even think Chris knows this yet,” president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank said in a conference call with reporters. “It’s awesome that Brad made such a great gesture like that. … Brad is such a great guy and an awesome teammate. … He knows what that jersey means to Chris. There’s a reason why he’s CP3.”
Paul has a history with the number and the franchise, wearing it from 2011 to 2017 when he was a perennial All-Star. Frank said Beal hasn’t decided yet what number he will choose.
There’s more from the Pacific Division:
- In a Threads exchange with radio host Colin Cowherd, Brian Windhorst of ESPN sheds some light on the uneasy relationship between LeBron James and the Lakers since the arrival of Luka Doncic. “A lot has changed for LBJ in the last year,” Windhorst wrote. “A year ago the Lakers were offering him a multi-year deal with a player option, drafted and guaranteed Bronny a long-term deal and LBJ was offering to give up money to work with free agents. Now Luka is centerpiece of franchise & the transition has shocked & strained everyone & they’re all dealing with the new reality. That’s playing out partially in real time and in some public. At the end of the day, I think LBJ wants to be a Laker.” James’ agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, said in a Summer League interview that James hasn’t asked the team for a trade.
- Bronny James‘ improvement was the most significant development for the Lakers‘ Summer League squad, observes Khobi Price of The Orange County Register. James averaged 14.2 points, 3.8 assists and 2.8 rebounds in Las Vegas and was able to attack opposing defenses with more confidence than he showed a year ago. However, he only shot 29.6% from three-point range and still needs to become more consistent on defense, Price adds.
- Kings first-round pick Nique Clifford talked about his first Summer League experience and his expectations for his rookie season in an interview with Sean Cunningham of KCRA News in Sacramento (Twitter video link).
- The Suns, who claimed Jordan Goodwin off waivers earlier today, knew there was at least one other team planning to submit a claim for the former Lakers guard and weren’t sure they’d land him, according to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 (Twitter link). Waiver priority is determined by last season’s record, with the worst teams getting first dibs.
Los Angeles Notes: C. Christie, Brown, LeBron, Bronny
Second-year Clippers guard Cam Christie is getting some Summer League reps for the second straight year. The 6’5″ swingman out of Minnesota played sparingly during his 2024/25 rookie season, appearing in just 13 games. He recently outlined how he wants to grow in ’25/26, per Law Murray of The Athletic (Twitter video link).
“Really just defensive intensity and shooting,” Christie said of what he could bring to the team in his second season. “Obviously I know we have ball handling and scoring with James [Harden] and Kawhi [Leonard], and we have great players with Zu [Ivica Zubac], but I feel like defense can always help the team, no matter what. Defensive intensity and then shooting as well, being able to knock down open shots, space the floor for our main guys, and help them out that way.”
Christie went on to credit teammates Derrick Jones Jr. and Kris Dunn for much of his defensive evolution since the start of his rookie season, along with big brother Max Christie, who is now a Maverick.
“I think on the ball I’ve learned a lot, just from watching DJ,” Christie said. “We have similar builds, and he’s obviously a point of attack defender so to watch him navigate screens and stuff like that, and my brother as well, because he’s also point of attack, so learning things from him. And then, just off-ball-wise, learning from Kris, how he’s able to break on the ball and traps, and stuff like that.”
There’s more out of Los Angeles:
- Although his minutes were limited by a second-half right ankle injury, third-year Clippers forward Kobe Brown flashed plenty of promise in a 95-92 Summer League victory against Houston Friday, writes Broderick Turner of The Los Angeles Times. In just 20 minutes, Brown notched 14 points, four boards and four assists. “He’s just got to continue to do what he did tonight,” Clippers Summer League head coach Jeremy Castleberry said. “Play great defense. Make the right reads. We’ve been talking about it all training camp. Get in the paint, draw two, make the right reads and if they put a small on him, he showed his ability to be able to score against a mismatch tonight and doing it the right way — quickly, getting downhill, not dancing, just getting straight to the point.”
- As trade rumors swirl around Lakers All-Star forward LeBron James, Bill Plaschke of The Los Angeles Times suggests the four-time MVP needs to follow Hall of Fame former L.A. great Kobe Bryant‘s example when it comes to retirement. In 2015, on an expiring contract just as James is now, Bryant announced his 20th season would be his last, and was able to endear himself to the league at large during a prolonged farewell tour on a lottery-bound Lakers squad. While Plaschke isn’t demanding James call it a career just yet, he does see in the Bryant narrative a solid approach for James to take when the time comes.
- James’ eldest son, second-year Lakers guard Bronny James, enjoyed an encouraging Summer League performance in a 94-81 win against New Orleans on Saturday with LeBron sitting courtside, writes Turner in another piece. Bronny James scored 14 points while shooting 5-of-11 from the field and also contributing three assists and a pair of steals. “Yeah, we want him to play on the ball,” Lakers Summer League head coach Lindsey Harding said. “Especially in tight moments, I like the ball in his hands and I want him to make those decisions. You can go through as many drills as you want, but nothing beats live.”