Bronny James’ journey as an NBA player continues as preseason action gets underway.
James, the No. 55 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, moves one step closer to making his regular season when the Lakers take the floor for six preseason games. The first game on LA’s exhibition schedule comes when it hosts a new-look Minnesota team at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, Calif.
Will James play in the Lakers’ preseason debut? Here is everything to know about his status for the preseason opener and whether or not you should expect to see him on the floor.
MORE: NBA’s top 30 players, ranked: Where stars land ahead of 2024-25 season
Is Bronny James playing tonight? James is not listed on the official injury report for Friday’s game, clearing him to be active for the game.
It is worth noting that the Lakers have 21 players on their training camp roster and it is unclear where James falls in the rotation. If he is available, James’ chances of playing in the game depend on the rotations of new head coach JJ Redick and how much he prioritizes reps for the team’s younger players.
What time is Bronny James playing tonight? Date: Friday, Oct. 4 Time: 10:30 p.m. ET | 7:30 p.m. PT James and the Lakers take on the Timberwolves on Friday, Oct. 4 at 10:30 p.m. ET, which is 7:30 p.m. local time.
The game will be played at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, Calif., home of Arena Hockey League’s Coachella Valley Firebirds.
MORE: NBA players react to Lakers historic selection of Bronny James
What channel is Bronny James playing on tonight? Date: Friday, Oct. 4 TV channel: NBA TV Live streaming: Sling TV The NBA preseason game between James’ Lakers and the Timberwolves will air on NBA TV. Those without cable can stream the game on Sling TV.
Sling is the home for avid sports fans offering a range of sports channels so you can always cheer for your favorite teams with channels like ESPN, TBS, TNT, NFL Network, FS1 and more.
How close was Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James to getting drafted by the Golden State Warriors?
The LeBron James-Bronny James duo has become a powerful storyline in the NBA over the past few months, for obvious reasons.
However, with the younger James getting selected at No. 55 in the 2024 NBA draft, various teams had the chance to draft Bronny and spoil the Lakers’ father-son pairing.
One of those teams was the Warriors, who reportedly gave serious consideration to drafting James at No. 52 overall.
A new report from Bleacher Report’s Mike Chiari (citing ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne) indicates that the Warriors passed on Bronny out of respect for LeBron.
“According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, the Warriors “liked Bronny’s skill set,” but they decided against taking him at No. 52 overall to “respect the wishes” of his father and Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James,” Chiari said on Friday.
Golden State’s rationale behind passing on Bronny — deference towards LeBron — is a rare and strange occurrence in the cutthroat world of professional sports.
Why would the Warriors be concerned about respecting LeBron’s personal wishes over the impetus of their own franchise?
There must be something more to the decision, and indeed, Golden State may be still harboring hopes that it can land the elder James via trade in the near future.
The Warriors attempted to trade for LeBron before the deadline last season but were unsuccessful.
Still, with LeBron turning 40 in December and his son signing with the Lakers, it’s becoming increasingly likely that the Hall of Famer will retire in purple and gold.
Were the Warriors too accommodating in their decision regarding Bronny James?
Bronny and LeBron James are set to make history Friday when the father-son duo makes their NBA preseason debut with the Lakers.
There have been several instances where sons play in the NBA long after their fathers retire, but never simultaneously.
LeBron’s dominant longevity, entering his 22nd season coming off an All-NBA Second Team honor last year, is so unprecedented that it has afforded him the opportunity to play with his junior.
However, a recent report from ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne suggests that the James tandem was just as close to being opponents as they were to being teammates.
MORE: NBA’s top 30 players, ranked: Where stars land ahead of 2024-25 season
Why didn’t the Warriors draft Bronny James? The Warriors had the No. 52 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft and “weighed whether to take Bronny” with their second-round selection, ESPN’s Shelburne reported Friday.
“The Warriors liked Bronny’s skill set and had him on their draft board,” Shelburne wrote.
Shelburne added that the Warriors tried to trade for LeBron last season. With the four-time NBA MVP facing a player option in 2024 free agency, drafting Bronny could have been a last-ditch effort to bring the “James Gang” to The Bay.
But instead of potentially turning family members into opponents and enemies, Golden State ultimately passed on the USC guard, paving the way for the family to remain in Los Angeles.
“Selecting him ahead of the Lakers, who held the 55th pick, would’ve been a shrewd move — perhaps even to entice James to sign there as a free agent. But ultimately, sources said, the Warriors opted to respect the wishes James had made clear and the Lakers signaled they would grant.”
Bronny enters the NBA after one season at USC where he averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. The expectation is that he will spend most of his rookie season in the G League to continue developing.
MORE: Expert NBA award predictions for 2024-25 season
Who did the Warriors draft instead of Bronny James? The Warriors settled on Quinten Post with the No. 52 pick, a 7-foot center out of Boston College.
Post was a 2024 All-ACC Second Team member who averaged 17.0 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.7 blocks and 0.9 steals in 31.9 minutes per game in 2023-24. The 24-year-old is a strong rim protector with stretch-big upside, converting 42.9 percent of his 170 3-point attempts over his final two college seasons.
Golden State signed Post to a two-way contract, so he will spend time with both the NBA club and the G League Santa Cruz Warriors this season.
The New York Knicks are continuing to add to the good vibes surrounding their most anticipated season in decades.
The Knicks announced on Friday that Hall of Famer and franchise leading scorer Patrick Ewing is joining the team as a basketball ambassador.
According to ESPN, Ewing will work with both the coaching staff and the front office.
“As I said the day my number 33 jersey lifted into the rafters at MSG, I will always be a Knick and I will always be a New Yorker. I can’t wait to get started in this new position and to officially be back with the organization that I love so much,” Ewing said in a statement. “The Garden has always been my home and I’m looking forward to working with Leon Rose, Coach Thibodeau, the team and everyone else that makes this place so special.”
Welcome back, 3️⃣3️⃣!!
Knicks legend Patrick Ewing will re-join the franchise as basketball ambassador. pic.twitter.com/CwwfEYGUDA
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) October 4, 2024 pic.twitter.com/x6viQ224Cf
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) October 4, 2024 Ewing played with the Knicks from 1985-2000, becoming an 11-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA member, leader in points, rebounds, and blocks, and making the Hall of Fame. He helped lead the Knicks to the Finals in 1994 and 1999.
Read more: Picking the Knicks’ all-time starting lineup, plus a sixth man and coach
Ewing was frequently present during the Knicks postseason run last season as part of an exuberant group of former Knicks players that cheered on the team.
The move is a popular one with fans and analysts.
Welcome home, Big Fella https://t.co/wxCp80uacV
— Alan Hahn (@alanhahn) October 4, 2024 The Big Fella back in the building!!!!!!!!!! https://t.co/g8KbodmfDN
— John Schmeelk (@Schmeelk) October 4, 2024 Patrick Ewing returns to the Knicks as a basketball ambassador. This is the way. Welcome back Cap! pic.twitter.com/KeLeOCp82f
— CP “The Fanchise” (@CPTheFanchise) October 4, 2024 Sweet. Having franchise legends around for players to confide in and consult is great for culture and players of any age. I hope he still sits with Starks, Melo, and the other alum at playoff games https://t.co/8AVEnLJ1bo
— Kris Pursiainen (@krispursiainen) October 4, 2024 It’s hard to find many teams with better vibes than the Knicks entering the preseason. After landing Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns in trades, and re-signing Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby in the offseason, the Knicks are potential championship contenders this season.
The team is coming off its best playoff run in decades, has a front office that is highly regarded for its creativity, and now brings back a franchise legend to be part of it all.
The Los Angeles Lakers have an obvious star duo, but are they one big trade away from truly contending?
A new piece from Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus proposes a three-team deal that would result in very intriguing roster changes for the Lakers.
“While Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick downplayed his franchise’s need for a traditional center, the team privately confirmed that it could use a big man with girth,” Pincus said. “Top basketball executive Rob Pelinka also indicated the Lakers would be open to moving future first-round picks for a marginal (one pick) or more significant (two) upgrade.”
“Of the potential targets … one stands out as slightly more realistic than the others—the combination of Malcolm Brogdon and Jonas Valančiūnas from the Washington Wizards. As a more defensive-minded ball-handling guard, Brogdon would replace D’Angelo Russell, who is needed in the deal for salary-matching purposes. Valančiūnas would give the Lakers a sized option at center.”
“The Washington Wizards acquired Valančiūnas over the summer, so a deal wouldn’t be legal until close to the trade deadline (February 6). Add the Chicago Bulls, who get out of an expendable backup guard for their trouble to make everything come together.”
The full outcome of the trade proposal would go as follows. The Lakers would receive 2022-23 Sixth Man of the Year Malcolm Brogdon (from Wizards), Jonas Valančiūnas (from Wizards), and Jevon Carter (from Bulls).
The Wizards would receive D’Angelo Russell, Gabe Vincent, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Christian Wood, and Cam Reddish from the Lakers.
The Bulls would receive Johnny Davis and Patrick Baldwin Jr. from the Wizards.
Should the Lakers consider a trade similar to the above deal proposed by Pincus? A top six of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Valančiūnas, Rui Hachimura, Austin Reaves, and Brogdon would certainly be tougher than what they have right now.
Rui Hachimura was one of the most important players for the Lakers last season.
The Lakers made the Western Conference Finals two years ago with the Japanese forward in the starting lineup. They then played their best basketball at the end of 2023-24 when he re-entered that role, finishing the season with a 22-10 record after former head coach Darvin Ham made that change.
Los Angeles won’t have the same issue this season — head coach JJ Redick has already announced that Hachimura will start from Day One. That’s part of Redick’s strategy of “creating clarity for players,” as he explained to reporters.
A more well-defined role should help both the Lakers and Hachimura have a better year. Here’s how Redick plans to make that happen.
MORE: JJ Redick’s vision for LeBron, other Lakers is genius
Why Rui Hachimura is primed for a breakout season under JJ Redick Hachimura showed by averaging 22.0 points per game in the Olympics that he can be a primary scoring option, but with LeBron James and Anthony Davis ahead of him in the pecking order, that’s not the way that Redick envisions using him on the Lakers.
“That [Olympic role] is a different role than he can have on our team. That’s just the reality,” Redick explained. Instead, Redick plans to “look for opportunities for him to use his skills, particularly as an iso and post-up player.”
The numbers back up Redick’s strategy. Hachimura was one of the better post-up players in the league last year and the best on the Lakers. His 1.15 points per possession ranked in the 83rd percentile of all players, per NBA Stats.
Post-ups are great opportunities to leverage Hachimura’s athleticism, speed, strength and underrated footwork.
MORE: How JJ Redick will change the Lakers based on his conversations with LeBron
Hachimura wasn’t quite as effective as an isolation player, ranking in the 34th percentile of players. But Redick sees the vision there for how to turn those into better possessions.
Hachimura was very good in isolation when he would get the ball, face up and drive. He’s simply too fast and strong for players to keep up with, and he’s been a terrific finisher at the rim when he gets near there.
What has made Hachimura an inefficient isolation player is his propensity to take so many pull-up midrange jumpers. It’s one of his favorite shots, but he shot only 42 percent on the 100 attempts he took last season. Redick is looking to limit those looks.
“We have to be cognizant of what his shot profile looks like, in terms of midrange shots and the volume and percentage of shots he’s taking from the midrange,” Redick explained. “What we’ve talked about with him and what we will continue to emphasize with him will have a high impact level on winning.”
MORE: Is JJ Redick the right person for Lakers head coaching job?
Hachimura shot an identical 42 percent from 3 as he did on those pull-up 2s. Given that the 3 is worth an extra point, it makes sense to try and sub those 2s out for more 3s. That is another one of Redick’s stated goals, to get his team up from their No. 28 ranking in 3-point attempts last year.
Hachimura seems to be on board with those changes. He’s been effusive in his praise for Redick, noting on Thursday that Redick “was just in the league, so he knows exactly what’s happening in this league right now. He can coach us from the players’ standpoint.”
That synergy with Redick sounds better than what Hachimura had with Ham. “It was really up and down since I got here,” Hachimura admitted. His minutes and role shifted dramatically throughout last season. Ham never really seemed to figure out how to best use him. With Redick, things look different.
“It’s easy to understand,” Hachimura said of Redick. “Whatever he says just makes sense.”
With a clearer role, more opportunities to lean into his strength as a post player and a reduction of his midrange shots, Hachimura and Redick have come up with a good plan to have a big year.
