Los Angeles Lakers rookie point guard Bronny James had a big night, in a big loss.
During L.A.’s preseason finale, a 132-74 blowout road loss to the Golden State Warriors on Friday night, the 6-foot-2 former USC Trojans product made his first-ever start for the franchise in a preseason bout.
The Lakers opted to sit starters LeBron James, Anthony Davis, D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, and Rui Hachimura, plus No. 17 rookie draft pick Dalton Knecht and veteran reserve guards Gabe Vincent and Max Christie. Injured big men Christian Wood, Jarred Vanderbilt, and two-way signing Christian Koloko all missed out, too.
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Lakers head coach JJ Redick started the undersized younger James at small forward. His first five was rounded out by former lottery picks Cam Reddish and Jaxson Hayes, now on minimum deals and unlikely to make much of a dent in L.A.’s fully healthy rotation, plus 2023 first …