The Los Angeles Lakers faced a challenging start to their NBA season, falling to their rivals, the Golden State Warriors, with a score of 119-109 in their season opener on Tuesday night. Despite the setback, the Lakers are poised to seek their first victory of the season this Friday when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves, who currently hold a 1-0 record.
Among the players the Lakers will rely on is Bronny James, their second-year guard, who, despite dealing with a previous ankle sprain, is expected to be in the lineup for the Timberwolves game. Notably, he was absent from the injury report ahead of both the season opener and Friday’s matchup.
Bronny James is coming off a challenging rookie season in Los Angeles, where he appeared in only 27 games and started just once. During his limited action, he averaged 2.3 points, 0.8 assists, 0.7 rebounds, and 0.3 steals per game. The Lakers selected him in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft with the 55th overall pick following a one-year stint at USC, where he averaged 4.8 points per game.
Ian LeBron James, alongside Adou Thiero and Maxi Kleber, will miss the upcoming game due to various reasons, placing additional pressure on his teammates to step up. The Lakers will have two more opportunities to compete against the Timberwolves this season, and a win on Friday could serve as a turning point for the team.
As the Lakers aim to rebound after their initial defeat, optimism remains within the organization and among fans, especially with a young talent like Bronny James ready to contribute.