Bronny James (knee) sits out Lakers’ 2nd California Classic game
SAN FRANISCO — Bronny James was scratched from the Lakers’ second California Classic game on Sunday because of a swelling in his left knee, a day after scoring four points in his Summer League debut.
Lakers Summer League coach Dane Johnson didn’t provide many details after the team’s 92-68 loss to Golden State, but shared that “we’re taking it day-by-day.”
“Just being precautionary about it,” Johnson said. “The hope is (and) the plan is for him to play the next game here. But that’s all the information we have so far.”
The son of Lakers superstar LeBron James sat in uniform at the end of the bench, with a white wrap covering his left leg. He was seen picking at it a couple of times.
On Saturday afternoon in a 108-94 loss to Sacramento, James was 2 for 9 from the field, missing all three of his 3-point attempts, and had two rebounds in 22 minutes.
Halfway through the fourth quarter of the game against the Warriors, fans in Chase Center began clapping and shouting, “We want Bron-ny! We want Bron-ny!”
James was drafted by the Lakers with the 55th overall selection after one season at USC. The elder James is in Las Vegas preparing with Team USA for the Olympics in Paris.
With an 0-2 record, the Lakers will play Miami on Wednesday at 4 p.m. (ESPN2) on the last day of the California Classic. It will be the team’s last opportunity for victory before participating in the league-wide Las Vegas Summer League beginning Friday.
Johnson did say that James’ availability for the game against the Heat would be left up to the medical professionals who keep players healthy.
“Our trainers deal with all of that. They just give me updates,” Johnson said. “So, hopefully, you guys can have information on that later.”
The Lakers are prioritizing giving James as many reps as possible through the remainder of summer league, both in San Francisco and then in Las Vegas.
Though he hasn’t been courtside to watch his son this weekend, LeBron spoke about Bronny from training camp in Las Vegas on Sunday afternoon.
His son, he said, isn’t bothered by any criticism he’s receiving whatsoever.
“I don’t know if people really understand Bronny,” James told ESPN on Sunday. “He doesn’t care. I actually care a little bit. When I came in [as a rookie], I wanted people to like me and some of the things that people were saying about me kind of bothered me early on in my career. … He doesn’t give a (expletive).
“He does not care about nobody. He doesn’t even listen to that stuff. He’s like the coolest. He’s like the complete opposite of his dad. His dad will say something [to address the critics]. Bro does not care. … Everything that’s being said about him, he really does not care.”
The Warriors opened a 14-point lead after one quarter and cruised to a lopsided win over the cold-shooting Lakers behind 22 points and 11 rebounds from Ethan Thompson.
First-round draft pick Dalton Knecht led the Lakers with 12 points despite shooting 3 for 13 from the field (1 for 3 from 3-point range) in 22 minutes. Armel Traore had 11 points and seven rebounds in 18 minutes, while Colin Castleton had 10 points and 10 rebounds in 20 minutes, Sean East II and Tommy Kuhse each added 10 points.
The Lakers shot just 25% from the field (21 for 84), including a 4-for-34 showing (11.8%) from behind the arc.