Lakers Edge Out Hawks in Summer League Thriller
The Los Angeles Lakers clinched their first victory of 2024 in dramatic fashion, overcoming the Atlanta Hawks by a narrow margin of 87-86 in a summer league game. The crucial win marks the end of a challenging five-game losing streak for the Lakers, bringing a fresh wave of optimism to the team and its fans.
Rookie guard Bronny James, who was the 55th overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft, played a pivotal role in securing the win. James started the game confidently, sinking a 17-foot pull-up jumper, and continued to exert significant influence throughout the game. Despite a slow start to his summer league performance, where he averaged just 4.3 points and missed all 15 three-point attempts in his first four games, James found his rhythm against the Hawks. He finished the game with 12 points, nine of which he scored in the first half, delivering a performance that showcased his growing potential.
James displayed improved shooting accuracy, hitting 5 of his 11 field goal attempts and knocking down 2 of his 5 shots from beyond the arc. Notably, he made a crucial three-pointer late in the game to tie the score, demonstrating his ability to perform under pressure. Reflecting on his performance, James credited his family for their unwavering support. "My mom, my dad really help me, encouraging me to stay focused and keep being myself. So I feel like that's a big part of how I came out [tonight]," he said.
Lakers center Colin Castleton also delivered a standout performance, scoring 17 points, grabbing 12 rebounds, dishing out six assists, and making two steals. Castleton's well-rounded contribution was instrumental in the Lakers' victory. "I think he's stepping into a good role. It takes a little bit of time. He has a lot of pressure, a lot of things on him. So he has a great mindset. He's a great kid, great teammate, and we love being around him. Everybody in the organization loves being around him and he took great shots tonight and just got a good rhythm," Castleton said about James.
Despite the absence of two key players—Zacharie Risacher, the No. 1 overall pick by the Hawks, and the Lakers' first-round draft pick, Dalton Knecht—the game proved to be a tightly contested battle. Both teams fought hard, but it was the Lakers who managed to secure the win with a critical defensive stop in the closing seconds.
The victory was a much-needed morale boost for the Lakers, who faced tough criticism after a loss to the Boston Celtics. A social media post captured Celtics star Jaylen Brown appearing to critique Bronny James during the game. In response to the perceived criticism, James maintained a positive outlook and emphasized the importance of staying aggressive. "Just stay aggressive. Even though my shot hasn't been falling, just staying aggressive," he said.
Meanwhile, Richard Paul, CEO of Klutch Sports Group, defended Brown's comments, urging fans and pundits alike to recognize the value of genuine feedback from established players. "You can't take everybody's opinion and try to turn it against him or think that he's a bad person. At least [Brown] is someone who is actually in the league. There's a lot of 'experts' with no expertise; he's actually an expert with expertise. So, if he has that opinion, he can have that opinion. I know Jaylen. I know he doesn't mean that with any malice. He was just having a conversation," Paul said.
Dane Johnson, the Lakers' summer league coach, expressed confidence in James' shooting abilities and encouraged him to continue taking open shots. "He had those same shots previously, and he just missed them. So, we're going to encourage him to keep taking those. If he's open and we have an open catch-and-shoot [shot], we want him to shoot those, along with everybody else. Open catch-and-shoot threes are what we're looking for. Even if you're not making them, believe in yourself, have confidence in yourself," Johnson explained.
Bronny James is cherishing the opportunity to play alongside his father, NBA superstar LeBron James, and sees it as a unique advantage in his development. "I feel like playing together [and] going to work together every day is just going to build on the relationship we already have. Build that connection, maybe even stronger. But I'm excited to get to work with my dad," he shared.
With two more games scheduled in Las Vegas against the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Chicago Bulls, the Lakers are looking to build on this victory and continue their upward trajectory in the summer league. For Bronny James, it is a chance to further prove his mettle and solidify his path towards becoming a key player for the Lakers.