The journey begins on Saturday for Lakers rookie Bronny James, who is looking to shut out the noise and finally get back to playing basketball after a long journey through the NBA Draft process.
James is expected to spend much of his rookie season in the G League, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, but the Summer League serves as both an important developmental period for second-round picks such as him and an opportunity for James to prove he’s worth an extended look at the NBA level.
James and fellow rookie Dalton Knecht will be the focus of the summer for the Lakers, along with second-year forward Maxwell Lewis after Lewis saw a bit of run with the team as a rookie. Other notable pieces for LA’s Summer League squad include former NC State big man Mohamed Diarra and standout Pitt scorer Blake Hinson, who each went undrafted.
This Lakers team isn’t nearly as deep as some of the Summer League squads from the 2010s when Kyle Kuzma and Lonzo Ball were making their cases for playing time on a young NBA roster. Knecht and James are priorities because they were both drafted, and they will be given a chance to showcase their skills on Saturday at the Chase Center.
The Sporting News is tracking live stats and highlights from Saturday’s NBA Summer League game between the Lakers and Kings. Follow along below as James makes his debut.
MORE: Watch NBA Summer League games live with Sling
Lakers vs. Kings live score
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
| Lakers | 18 | 23 | – | – | – |
| Kings | 23 | 24 | – | – | – |
Bronny James at Summer League live stats, highlights from Lakers vs. Kings
(All times Eastern)
5:54 p.m. — Adonis Arms has been the non-Bronny story today, as he has 24 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists for the Kings in a stellar performance.
5:49 p.m. — James knocks down his second basket of the day to reach four points. He’s now 2-of-8 from the field.
Bronny James finds separation for the midrange J!
🏀 Lakers-Kings
☀️ California Classic on ESPN pic.twitter.com/q0ZmUQcXlp— NBA (@NBA) July 6, 2024
5:43 p.m. — A tough sequence there for James, who passes on a shot and then takes a more difficult shot after getting the ball back in his hands. He’s 1-of-7 from the field.
5:40 p.m. — James is back on the floor to start the second half, but Maxwell Lewis remains the focal point of the Lakers’ offense as he scores his 11th and 12th points.
End of first half: Kings 47, Lakers 41
5:26 p.m. — James is back out of the game as halftime nears. He has 2 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist and 1 steal on 1-of-6 shooting through just under 12 minutes of action.
5:24 p.m. — Now James adds an assist as the Lakers try to cut into Sacramento’s lead.
Bronny James’ steal leads to Kyle Mangas’ layup!
Watch the California Classic on ESPN! pic.twitter.com/PEkgw8XYw0
— NBA (@NBA) July 6, 2024
5:18 p.m. — James is sitting on two points, a rebound and a steal through 11 minutes of action. He’s shooting just 1-of-6 from the field.
5:13 p.m. — Bronny has his first Summer League points! He drives to the basket to cut the Kings’ lead to two.
Bronny’s first points in the NBA 🔥 pic.twitter.com/sEYymcYA9z
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) July 6, 2024
5:04 p.m. — James just subbed back into the game.
5:02 p.m. — The Lakers have all of their starters out now, with Armel Traore up to four points. Maxwell Lewis leads the way for LA with 10.
End of first quarter: Kings 23, Lakers 18
4:50 p.m. — James is subbed out of the game for former Pitt standout Blake Hinson.
4:47 p.m. — James is 0-for-2 with a rebound through six minutes of action. He’s putting a bit too much on his shots. Knecht is 0-for-3, meanwhile.
4:45 p.m. — The Kings have come on strong here with a 12-0 run to take a 14-6 lead. Adonis Arms has six points for Sacramento.
4:39 p.m. — Come for Bronny James, stay for Maxwell Lewis. Lewis has all six of the Lakers’ points so far.
4:38 p.m. — James’ first jumper of the summer misses. He does have an early rebound on his line.
4:37 p.m. — Maxwell Lewis has the Lakers’ first four points, the first two coming on a nice pass by Knecht. James is on the floor as a starter.
4:36 p.m. — Fardaws Aimaq and Kenan Blackshear are the headliners of the Kings’ starting five as this game gets set to tip off.
4:28 p.m. — James and Knecht are getting ready to start the NBA Summer League in a few minutes. A reminder, though, that the Kings will be without first-round pick Devin Carter as he recovers from a shoulder injury. Sacramento is also bringing two teams to the California Classic.
3:15 p.m. — Here’s a look at who James will be playing alongside in his Summer League debut.
GAME DAY
Meet the Summer League Squad ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/cKyLbwTq9s
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) July 6, 2024
Lakers Summer League schedule 2024
California Classic
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat., July 6 | Lakers vs. Kings | 4:30 p.m. | ESPN, Sling |
| Sun., July 7 | Lakers vs. Warriors | 6:30 p.m. | NBA TV, Sling |
| Wed., July 10 | Heat vs. Lakers | 7 p.m. | ESPN2, Sling |
Las Vegas Summer League
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri., July 12 | Rockets vs. Lakers | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, Sling |
| Mon., July 15 | Celtics vs. Lakers | 10:30 p.m. | NBA TV, Sling |
| Wed., July 17 | Lakers vs. Hawks | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN, Sling |
| Thurs., July 18 | Lakers vs. Cavaliers | 9 p.m. | ESPN, Sling |
How to watch Lakers vs. Kings
- Date: Saturday, July 6
- Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
- TV channel: ESPN
- Live stream: ESPN+, Sling
Lakers vs. Kings will be broadcast on ESPN on Saturday, with tip-off set for 4:30 p.m. ET. For viewers in the United States, the game can be live-streamed on ESPN+ and Sling.
Lakers’ NBA Summer League roster
Here is the Lakers’ complete roster for the 2024 Las Vegas Summer League:
| Number | Player |
| 4 | Dalton Knecht |
| 9 | Bronny James Jr. |
| 14 | Colin Castleton |
| 21 | Maxwell Lewis |
| 27 | Vincent Valerio-Bodon |
| 29 | Sean East II |
| 30 | Grayson Murphy |
| 31 | Tommy Kuhse |
| 36 | Blake Hinson |
| 37 | Armel Traoré |
| 39 | Mohamed Diarra |
| 41 | Quincy Olivari |
| 50 | Kyle Mangas |
| 55 | Joirdon Nicholas |
