New Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick watched LA play the Houston Rockets in a Summer League game in Las Vegas on Friday night. Of course, there was a ton of attention on Lakers rookie Bronny James, and during the game’s broadcast, Redick talked a little about this year’s 55th pick overall in the NBA Draft.
Redick joined ESPN’s broadcast of the Lakers-Rockets game and told Mark Jones and Doris Burke that James has been “terrific” thus far. The coach complimented the 19-year-old’s defensive flashes.
“We want him pressuring the ball,” Redick said. “I told him yesterday, I said, ‘If you get blown by, if you have 10 fouls, that’s on me. I want you up pressuring the ball.'”
James’ defense has been a saving grace for James in the Summer League, as he hasn’t been shooting the ball particularly well. In the 99-80 loss to Reed Sheppard and the Rockets, Bronny went just 3/14 from the field and 0/8 from behind the arc. He also had three turnovers while grabbing five rebounds and recording two steals.
After three Sumer League games, James has posted a 23.1 field goal percentage and has gone 0/12 from 3-point range.
Meanwhile, James’ fellow rookie, Dalton Knecht, shined in the Rockets games with 25 points to go along with six rebounds and four assists.
Los Angeles Lakers: NBA Las Vegas Summer League schedule
James and the Lakers will look to rebound from their loss to the Rockets when they take on the Boston Celtics on Monday. After that, Los Angeles will lock horns with the Atlanta Hawks on July 17. On July 18, the Lakers will square off against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
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