Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Lakers mull plans for historic LeBron-Bronny game

Written by 
Published in Basketball
Wednesday, 25 September 2024 17:31

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick has already started thinking about LeBron James and Bronny James becoming the first father-son duo in NBA history to share the court together this season, but he says he will involve both players when it comes to putting a plan in place for when and how that moment happens.

"We obviously have talked about it as a staff and we've gotten into some specifics of what that might look like," Redick said Wednesday during a joint news conference with Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka. "But we haven't committed to anything. And obviously, there's a discussion to be had once we're all together with Bronny and LeBron, too. They should be a part of that discussion as well."

LeBron is 39 and entering his 22nd season. Bronny is 19 and entering his rookie year after being selected by L.A. with the 55th pick in the second round after playing one season at USC.

While the regular season doesn't begin until Oct. 22 when the Lakers host the Minnesota Timberwolves, Pelinka said the team has already gotten a glimpse of the James bloodline in action during a pickup game at the practice facility this week.

"[Bronny] got switched onto LeBron, and LeBron took him baseline, up and under off the glass," Pelinka said. "The words exchanged afterward were probably more challenging than anything else."

LeBron shared some mild-mannered trash talk Wednesday on his Instagram account, posting Pelinka's quote about the father-son pickup sequence and writing, "Great defense. Better O."

Redick, entering his first season on the sideline after leaving behind a burgeoning broadcasting and podcasting career, did not sound fazed by the additional assignment of managing the James family while also the team at large.

"I don't look at it as a challenge," Redick said. "It's unique from any other challenge of coaching a player or coaching a relationship. Bronny, I feel very fortunate that I get to coach him because he's young and he's hungry, and he's got a lot of inherent skill sets that we can really mold into a really good NBA player. On top of that, he's a fantastic kid. He's extremely coachable. He's got the right spirit and energy every single day. So ... it's not something I've really thought of as a challenge."

The bigger challenge than how to find time for his best player and a rookie who figures to spend a lot of time in the G League together is how to keep the Lakers competitive in a crowded Western Conference field.

Following a first-round playoff exit after earning the No. 7 seed with a win over the New Orleans Pelicans in the play-in tournament, L.A. is largely returning the same team.

And while the time off has allowed Gabe Vincent and second-year guard Jalen Hood-Schifino to heal and be ready to report to next week's training camp fully healthy, according to Pelinka, there are still injuries affecting the roster.

Jarred Vanderbilt underwent procedures on his feet in the offseason, Pelinka revealed Wednesday. He had a midfoot injury in his right foot addressed and a bone spur in his left heel cleaned up.

"We have a lot of optimism that when the real games start, he'll be available," Pelinka said of Vanderbilt. "Between now and then, there is still about a month, and there are a lot of ramp up steps that need to go well, so hopefully there won't be setbacks."

And backup center Christian Wood continues to be sidelined after having a scope on his left knee earlier this month.

Pelinka and Redick said that "internal growth" from key rotation players such as Austin Reaves, D'Angelo Russell and Rui Hachimura will be paramount in supporting James and Anthony Davis on a nightly basis.

The Lakers' leaders expressed confidence in the group they head into the season. Redick said he would start the same group of James, Davis, Reaves, Russell and Hachimura that finished last season 23-10. And Pelinka said the team would be open to trading their two available future first-round picks to improve the roster, but not at the expense of the teams they could build in subsequent seasons.

"I think the philosophy that JJ and I are aligned on is we want to build sustainable Lakers excellence," Pelinka said. "And I think, when we talk about moves, you can make a move that backfires. I think every GM has made a trade where he says, 'Maybe that one wasn't ideal.' But every lens that we look through has to lead to sustainable Lakers excellence."

Read 59 times

Soccer

Chelsea captain James suffers new injury setback

Chelsea captain James suffers new injury setback

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsReece James has suffered another hamstring injury and will miss Che...

Miami's Gressel: Ties were 'unacceptable' to Messi

Miami's Gressel: Ties were 'unacceptable' to Messi

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMidfielder Julian Gressel said Lionel Messi demanded Inter Miami CF...

From Salah to Sterling, Ian Darke's most impressive and disappointing players

From Salah to Sterling, Ian Darke's most impressive and disappointing players

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsIf the English Premier League ended today, who would be in the runn...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Sources: NBA ASG to have pickup-style format

Sources: NBA ASG to have pickup-style format

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe NBA's new four-team tournament-style format for the 2025 All-St...

Chris Paul, Victor Wembanyama and the duo that could change the NBA

Chris Paul, Victor Wembanyama and the duo that could change the NBA

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsIT WAS THE final minute in the first quarter of Chris Paul's presea...

Baseball

MLB focusing on media rights plan for all teams

MLB focusing on media rights plan for all teams

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- For Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred, the...

Pirates hire former player Hague as hitting coach

Pirates hire former player Hague as hitting coach

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsPITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Pirates have hired Matt Hague as their...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated