The first game of a vital five-game road trip for the Lakers began with a thud in Orlando. The Magic rode scintillating performances from its star players to beat James, Luka Doncic, and the Lakers on Monday night — and James subtly made his displeasure clear, days after the 40-year-old attempted to rally the troops in the heat of a playoff chase.
James refuses to talk to reporters
James did not stick around Orlando’s Kia Center to speak to the media after the Lakers lost, 118-106, to the Magic. In his second game back from a groin injury, James scored 24 points in 38 minutes; Doncic led the Lakers with 32 points, but the duo were powerless in the third quarter, when Orlando outscored LA by 16 points.
Monday’s defeat did the Lakers no favors as they hunt down the Houston Rockets for the #2 seed in the Western Conference and a more-favorable matchup in the first round of the NBA playoffs, which begin next month. Los Angeles (43-28) is 2.5 games behind Houston with just 11 games left on its schedule; the Lakers also trail the Denver Nuggets (45-28), while the Memphis Grizzlies and the Golden State Warriors are both within two games of the purple and gold.
Los Angeles’ team defense will have to improve significantly after Orlando duo Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner combined for 62 points on Monday; the Magic outrebounded the Lakers and shot a better percentage from beyond the arc as well. Against the Indiana Pacers in a nationally-televised game on Wednesday night, LeBron, Luka, and the Lakers will have to step up with a much-improved effort in order to gain ground on its rivals.
Bronny James‘ rookie season in the NBA has been quite a ride for Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James‘ oldest son.
The former USC Trojans guard made history when he and his father played together during the Lakers season opener on October 23, 2024.
Since being drafted 55th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, Bronny has faced relentless scrutiny, with many believing his selection was solely due to his father’s influence. However, his last couple of performances with the Lakers and its NBA G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers.
Bronny James scores a career high
The South Bay Lakers (14-17) defeated the Santa Cruz Warriors (18-13) 122-118 at UCLA Health Training Center. Bronny James, currently on assignment, scored a career and game-high 39 points with seven rebounds, four assists, a team-high four steals and one block.
It was Bronny‘s best performance of his career, with his dominance on the court being one of the main reasons why his team was able to found rhythm and ignited in the fourth period to eclipse the Warriors with 8:43 on the clock and held an eight-point lead in the final 45 seconds of play.
After the game, Bronny James had some confident words about his performance. “I belong out here. It’s all I’m trying to prove. A lot of people say that I don’t so I just come out, work everyday, try to get better every day and prove myself every day.”
Magic Johnson Backs Bronny’s NBA Future
Earvin “Magic” Johnson, one of the Los Angeles Lakers legends and one of the best point guards ever, has expressed his confidence in Bronny‘s potential to make it in the NBA in the near future, which is a pretty good boost for any young player trying to prove themselves on the league.
Following the Lakers‘ preseason games, Magic made his stance clear, stating: “Lakers Nation, I have to tell you, Bronny James is going to be a really good basketball player. Last night he showed he has several things you simply can’t teach, like a high basketball IQ, athletic ability, and a competitive spirit that makes him a tenacious defender. I believe after a lot of hard work this season, he will definitely be in the Lakers‘ rotation and play many minutes.”
The future is bright for Bronny James, as he has shown a lot of improvement and maturity, something that would definitely help him solidify his role with the Lakers, even if his father, LeBron James, decides to retire after this season.
Leave a Reply