BREAKING: Lakers Hit With Bad News Ahead of NBA Summer League Opener
Bronny James of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during an NBA game.
Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd delivers bad news to the Los Angeles Lakers ahead of the much-anticipated NBA Las Vegas Summer League opener between the two teams.
Kidd revealed his bold plan to play No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg as point forward.
“I don’t look at the position, you know, I want to put him in at the point guard,” Kidd said during Flagg’s introductory press conference on June 27. “I want to make him uncomfortable and see how he reacts. Being able to run the show, being able to play the 2, play the 3. He’s comfortable playing [the 3], but we want to push, and I think he’s going to respond in a positive way. It’s all right to fail. It’s all right to turn the ball over. We’ve talked about that.”
At 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot wingspan, Flagg will be a handful for the Lakers, who will have Bronny James as their Summer League team’s lead guard.
Flagg’s debut against Bronny will be on July 10 which will be aired 5 p.m. P.T. on ESPN.
Bronny James Returns to NBA Summer League
Bronny returns to the Summer League determined to to have a better outing than last year’s debut when he averaged 8.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.0 assist on 35% shooting. The 20-year-old son of LeBron James has grown so much since last year’s Summer League.
Bronny split his time with the Lakers and their G League affiliate at South Bay during his rookie year.
In 27 games with the Lakers, the 6-foot-3 guard saw limited action and only averaged 2.3 points in 6.7 minutes per game. But in the G League, he was a rising star.
Bronny put together a standout G League campaign, averaging 21.9 points, 5.4 assists, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.9 steals while shooting 44% from the field and 38% from three in 34.1 minutes across 11 games.
Lakers to Evaluate 2nd Round Pick, Undrafted Rookies
Aside from Bronny, the Lakers will also unveil their rookies with Adou Thiero, their second-round selection in the 2025 NBA Draft, leading the way.
The 6-foot-6 Thiero averaged 15.1 points on 54.5% shooting from the field and 5.8 rebounds last season for the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Two-way signee Eric Dixon, along with RJ Davis and Arthur Kaluma, who signed Exhibit 10 contracts, will also be on the team.
Dixon led college basketball in scoring at 23.3 points per game during the 2024-25 season. Davis averaged at least 16 points per game in his final three seasons at North Carolina. The Tar Heels guard averaged 17.2 points, 3.6 assists, 3.4 rebounds and one steal per game while hitting 35.4% of his shots from long range in 37 starts during the 2024-25 season.
GettyAngel Reese and her brother, Julian Reese.
Maryland forward Julian Reese, who signed an NBA Summer League contract, will also see action. Julian is the brother of WNBA star Angel Reese.
The Chicago Sky star was hyped when the Lakers signed his brother.
“OPPORTUNITY. COME ON JU,” Angel Reese wrote on X.
Her brother went undrafted in the two-day 2025 NBA Draft despite having a productive senior season, averaging 13.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.5 blocks while shooting 55.5% from the field.
The Lakers are taking a flier on the 6-foot-9 power forward who recorded over 1,000 career points and rebounds, finishing top 10 in program history in total rebounds, field goal percentage and blocks at Maryland.