While most of the team’s top players were resting, Lakers rookie Bronny James was called up in the team’s final game against the Golden State Warriors.

James got the start and played alongside a few veteran Lakers, but mostly the team’s development projects.

Although the team fell well short – losing by 58 points to the much more seasoned Warriors, who produced some of their best performances – James saw his best professional performance to date.

In 35 minutes, James scored 17 points on 7-for-17 shooting, managing to add four rebounds, one assists, three steals and one block. He finished as the team’s second leading scorer on the night behind Quincy Olivari.

While the offensive efficiency wasn’t quite there yet, James found a slew of buckets and proved his do-it-all style was translatable enough at the highest level of basketball.

To this point, the 20-year-old and son of current Lakers superstar LeBron had seen plenty of success in both the Summer League and the preseason.

It has yet to be confirmed whether the No. 55 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft will play with the Lakers’ primary roster this season. But it is widely believed that he will spend the majority of his rookie year developing the South Bay Lakers.

At around 6-foot-1, James has a truly intriguing skill set as a defensive guard with passing chops, but he hasn’t found an offensive role or rhythm so far in his professional career. Time in South Bay could help him find just that, potentially leading him to an NBA career.

The Lakers open their season against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday, October 22. Should James and his father play on the field during that game, they will historically be the first father-son duo to compete in the regular season.

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