{"id":134056,"date":"2025-04-13T19:24:16","date_gmt":"2025-04-13T23:24:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=134056"},"modified":"2025-04-13T19:24:39","modified_gmt":"2025-04-13T23:24:39","slug":"lakers-rookies-bronny-james-first-career-start","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/04\/13\/lakers-rookies-bronny-james-first-career-start\/","title":{"rendered":"Lakers Rookie&#8217;s First Career Start Spoiled"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>With the Los Angeles Lakers having locked up a playoff spot, they felt more than comfortable holding several mainstays \u2014namely <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/jamesle01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">LeBron James<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/doncilu01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Luka Doncic<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/r\/reaveau01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Austin Reaves<\/a> \u2014out of their regular season finale. As common as a practice as it is, this came as no shock, especially given their opponent was the Portland Trail Blazers. However, few could have predicted rookie <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/jamesbr02.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bronny James<\/a> earning his first start of the season.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Bronny James will be making his first career NBA start vs. Portland. <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/K6NtLcYs6v\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/K6NtLcYs6v<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SportsCenter\/status\/1911501460723945475?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">April 13, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2>Lakers&#8217; Bronny James&#8217;s First Career Start Spoiled<\/h2>\n<p>In what was a microcosm of his path to this point, James had an up and down performance. He went just 2-10 from the field, including 0-2 from 3, finishing with four points. However, he was a two-way playmaker, tallying six assists and four steals.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Bronny James full highlight vs Trail Blazers <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/lXD2MBczzB\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/lXD2MBczzB<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 NBA Showtime (@NBAShowtime12) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NBAShowtime12\/status\/1911549908147937695?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">April 13, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The start was a tremendous milestone for James considering the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2023\/07\/25\/bronny-james-collapses-on-court-but-recovers-after-cardiac-arrest-scare\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">trials and tribulations<\/a> that he\u2019s faced. It was also a stark reminder of how far he has and can go.<\/p>\n<p>James has been the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/03\/20\/im-a-f-robot-bronny-james-opens-up-about-criticism\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">subject of much debate<\/a> this season, a fair amount of it being criticism about <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/11\/13\/nepotism-isnt-the-problem-with-lakers-plan-for-bronny-james\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">his father\u2019s perceived influence<\/a> in him being selected 55th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft. As he continues his roller coaster basketball journey, he\u2019s gone from a prospect who was considered to be in over his head to <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/02\/23\/bronny-james-learning-lessons-luka-doncic\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">a quality NBA player<\/a>. In a general sense, there\u2019s been merit to these assessments.<\/p>\n<p>Right now, his best skill is his feel for the game but he&#8217;s grown more comfortable as a ball-handler over the course of the season. Blending his basketball IQ, ball-handling, and passing ability allows him to make an indelible impact even if he isn&#8217;t scoring. Factor in his agility and tenacity at the defensive end and there&#8217;s plenty to like about his game.<\/p>\n<p>His 3-point stroke, ability to create separation, and ability to finish through contact all need work though. Theoretically, as his body matures, his game will naturally evolve. In the meantime though, honing in on his jumper could make him a true scoring threat regardless.<\/p>\n<h3>Knecht 4<\/h3>\n<p>The Lakers\u2019 Walk of Fame didn\u2019t just feature James on Sunday, as fellow rookie <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/k\/knechda01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Dalton Knecht<\/a> started in his 16th game of the season.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Dalton Knecht in a 109-81 loss @ the Trail Blazers : 27 points (9-21 shooting, 5-12 from 3 &amp; 4-4 from the FT line), 8 rebounds &amp; 2 blocks in 37 minutes <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/D3bxpT6dmc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/D3bxpT6dmc<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Lee Harvey (@MusikFan4Life) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MusikFan4Life\/status\/1911553539597381942?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">April 13, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>In 37 minutes, the 2024 No. 17 pick recorded 27 points (5-12 from 3), eight rebounds, and two blocks. It&#8217;s the seventh time this season that Knecht&#8217;s scored 20 more points. His 3-point shooting hearkens back to the preseason, when Lakers head coach JJ Redick said he was <a  href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/NBALakersReport\/status\/1838787892908290286\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">in the 99th per<\/a>centile of shooters. Given how prolific a 3-point shooter that Redick was, the comment was particularly poignant.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">JJ Redick says Dalton Knecht \u201cis in the 1% of shooters\u201d and has a good chance to earn a rotation spot<\/p>\n<p>He also stated that JHS and Max Christie made huge leaps this summer \ud83d\udd25<\/p>\n<p>(Via The Lowe Post)<\/p>\n<p><a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/LbHNtK59Fp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/LbHNtK59Fp<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 NBALakersReport (@NBALakersReport) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NBALakersReport\/status\/1838787892908290286?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">September 25, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The Lakers may have <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/02\/08\/lakers-hornets-void-mark-williams-dalton-knecht-trade\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">wanted a center<\/a> to pair with Doncic, but they should be happy they kept Knecht. Charlotte Hornets center <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/willima07.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mark Williams<\/a> may be better than anyone in their stable of big men. However, L.A. has few reputable off-ball shooters despite having three starters who have a penchant for playmaking.<\/p>\n<p>As a result, Knecht might be one of their most important players in the 2025 NBA Playoffs.<\/p>\n<div class=\"modal-image-setImageMetadata\">\n<p class=\"ng-binding\">\u00a9 Kirby Lee-Imagn Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With the Los Angeles Lakers having locked up a playoff spot, they felt more than comfortable holding several mainstays \u2014namely LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves \u2014out of their regular season finale. As common as a practice as it is, this came as no shock, especially given their opponent was the Portland Trail Blazers. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5008,"featured_media":134070,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[26,1608,62,23],"tags":[4572,49212,596],"class_list":["post-134056","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lakers","category-basketball","category-nba","category-trailblazers","tag-bronny-james","tag-dalton-knecht","tag-nba-playoffs"],"modified_by":"Quenton S Albertie","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/134056","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5008"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=134056"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/134056\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":134072,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/134056\/revisions\/134072"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/134070"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=134056"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=134056"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=134056"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}