Bronny James is set to make his NBA preseason debut on Friday night, but his father, LeBron James, will not be joining him on the court as the Lakers face off against Minnesota in their first preseason game in the Coachella Valley.
Lakers coach JJ Redick confirmed that LeBron James and Anthony Davis will sit out the preseason opener to rest after intense workouts during training camp. Both superstars are expected to play in at least one game over the weekend, with LeBron likely to take the court on Sunday, coinciding with Bronny's 20th birthday.
For the preseason opener, Max Christie and Jaxson Hayes started in place of LeBron and Davis alongside D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, and Austin Reaves. Despite the absence of the star players, fans in the Palm Springs metropolitan area showed up in large numbers to support the team.
The Lakers' decision to rest LeBron and Davis is part of a cautious approach as they ease back into competition following a busy summer that included winning a gold medal at the Paris Olympics. Bronny James, the Lakers' second-round draft pick, is expected to see playing time in the preseason before likely joining the G League's South Bay Lakers for a significant portion of the upcoming season.
The game against Minnesota also marks the coaching debut of JJ Redick, who took over as head coach after the Lakers' early exit from last season's playoffs. Redick, a former player with no prior coaching experience at any level, expressed confidence in his team's preparation and emphasized the importance of getting buy-in from his players.
Overall, the Lakers are looking to make a strong start to their preseason campaign, with a focus on player development and team performance as they gear up for the upcoming NBA season.
