Lakers Lose Big in Las Vegas Summer League Opener
Despite a strong performance from first-round rookie Dalton Knecht, Lakers fall to the Houston Rockets in their first game at the Las Vegas Summer League.
By Austin Gage | Contributing Sports Writer
Despite a strong performance from first-round rookie Dalton Knecht, Lakers fall to the Houston Rockets in their first game at the Las Vegas Summer League.
With many curious eyes watching throughout Thomas & Mack Center and all over the basketball world, the Los Angeles Lakers dropped their first game of the Las Vegas Summer League to the Houston Rockets 99-80.
For the second consecutive summer, basketball fans turned their attention to Las Vegas to witness a highly anticipated debut. Last year, it was the San Antonio Spurs’ 7’ 4′ ‘ Frenchman Victor Wembanyama, and this year it was the beginning of a professional basketball story for guard Bronny James, the eldest son of current Lakers superstar forward and arguably the greatest player of all time, Lebron James.
And of course, for Bronny James, his selection and further on-court performance have been under heavy scrutiny since day one. Attending and playing basketball at the University of Southern California, the bright lights of following in his father’s footsteps as a basketball great continued to follow him.
James, who overcame a cardiac arrest scare in July of 2023 that sidelined him for almost five months, went on to average 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game in his one-year collegiate career. He was then selected with the 55th pick in the second round of the NBA Draft and joined a Lakers 2024 draft class that included dynamic offensive threat Dalton Knecht, a forward from the University of Tennessee selected 17th overall in the first round.
“Me and Bronny, the both of us are just ready to keep going out there, keep competing, leading the team, always playing hard and keep trying to lead,” said Knecht after the game speaking on the two rookies’ dynamic.
The debut game itself was not particularly close. Despite a tightly contested 1 & ½ quarters, Houston was able to gain a lead and never look back around the 6-minute mark in the second quarter. For the Rockets, a team who made a phenomenal run late last season to almost sneak into the play-in tournament, the future is looking as bright as ever.
Led by the third overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft Reed Sheppard, a guard out of the University of Kentucky, and second-year forward Cam Whitmore, who played his college ball at Villanova University, Houston proved to be too poised to handle for Los Angeles.
Sheppard produced many moments throughout the game that showcased the reason why he was such an early pick. Easily looking like the best player on the court, Sheppard’s athletic ability and superb shooting skill were evident in the third quarter especially. A personal run that included a deep three-pointer, an and-one layup off a crafty stepback hesitation move on Knecht, a pure midrange jumper and a long-range three-pointer from the “Summer League” logo/lettering capped a dominated quarter by the Rockets and truly put the game out of reach. The 6’ 3’ ’ guard finished with 23 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds and included 4 three-pointers and 3 blocks.
For Whitmore, the 2023 Summer League MVP, he continued his excellent summer form as he tallied 20 points, 4 assists and 10 rebounds to go along with 4 steals. Showing off his elite athleticism and defensive potential, Whitmore was able to force numerous turnovers and produce numerous highlight-worthy dunks.
Despite the overall disappointing performance, there were some bright spots for the Lakers. One of those included Knecht, as he finished with 25 points, 4 assists and 6 rebounds on 5 for 11 shooting from downtown. Knecht, who represented one of the only two total Lakers to make a three-pointer in the contest, looked comfortable all game and found his rhythm very quickly. The 23-year-old sharpshooter looks to play a key role in the upcoming Lakers season, as he was regarded as one of the best “pro-ready” prospects in the draft.
However, the offensive concerns continued for James, as he ended with 8 points and 5 rebounds but on 3 for 14 shooting from the field that included 0 for 8 from the three-point line. Despite a solid performance defensively, a performance that often saw James pick up opposing guards almost in a full-court press, the continued shooting woes saw James’ overall shooting marks inflate to 6 for 26 (23%) from the field and 0-12 from 3. James did look much more aggressive with the ball in his hands than he had in the previous two California Classic summer games, but he could not get shots to fall.
“I just feel like I’m in a little slump right now,” James said after the game regarding his shooting performance.
The Lakers shot 32 for 83 from the field (38.6%) and 8 for 31 (25.8%) from downtown, while the Rockets shot 37 for 81 from the field (45.7%) and 7 for 24 (29.2%) from downtown.
Up next, the Lakers will face the Celtics on Monday night as they look to grab their first Las Vegas Summer League victory and their first overall victory of the summer (as of story publication date).
Lakers Lose Big Again in Second Las Vegas Summer League Matchup
The Los Angeles Lakers dropped their second summer league Monday night, an 88-74 loss to the Boston Celtics. In another chapter of a storied rivalry, although this time in a summer fashion, the reigning champions took control of the game early into the second quarter and never looked back.
Led by fourth-year center Neemias Queta, who contributed 22 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks, Boston secured a victory in the summer league over Los Angeles for the second year in a row. Queta, who was drafted out of Portugal in 2021 by the Sacramento Kings, is looking to solidify a spot on the Celtics’ championship roster.
Former University of Southern California forward Drew Peterson supported Queta and the Celtics as he added 12 points, 3 assists, and 5 rebounds to go along with four three-pointers. As the Lakers attempted to mount a comeback midway through the fourth quarter, it was Peterson who countered with two big three-pointers to put the game away.
For the Lakers, first-round-rookie forward Dalton Knecht once again paced the team offensively, ending the game with 19 points, 3 assists, and 3 rebounds paired with 3 steals. Knecht, who initially struggled offensively in the California Classic summer league games, has tallied 25 and 19 points in the two games in Las Vegas.
Outside of Knecht, few Lakers heavily contributed on the offensive side of the ball. Second-year forward Maxwell Lewis, who attended Pepperdine University, and sixth-year veteran center Moses Brown, who attended the University of California Los Angeles, were the only other Lakers players to score in double digits.
Lewis tallied 13 points, 2 assists and 3 rebounds, but he was held scoreless in the second half after a stellar two quarters. Brown finished with 11 points and 6 rebounds, and he was the motor along with Knecht in leading a late Lakers charge that was eventually spoiled.
Unfortunately for Bronny James, his shooting woes continued for another game as he finished with 2 points on 1 for 5 shooting (0 for 3 from three). James remained scoreless until late in the fourth quarter when he hit a midrange jump shot as the shot clock expired which cut the Boston lead to 10. James, who previously described his current shooting run as a “slump”, attacked many good looks but just couldn’t find the bottom of the net.
Looking ahead to the future, the Lakers will take on the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night in a battle between two 0-2 teams.
