Bronny James Had 'Some Butterflies' Before Lakers Debut at 2024 NBA Summer League

Bronny James has played his first game in a Los Angeles Lakers uniform.

The 2024 second-round pick made his NBA Summer League debut Saturday when the Lakers fell 108-94 to the Sacramento Kings. Following the game, James reflected on the opportunity and admitted that he was feeling some nerves prior to the game.

"Every first game that I step on the next level there's always some butterflies in my stomach, but as soon as the ball tips and we go a couple times down it all goes away and I'm just playing basketball," James said (58-second mark). "It's always going to be there, but I'll get through it."

James also shared that the biggest surprise from his Summer League debut was the atmosphere in Golden State.

"Maybe the atmosphere. It was more than I expected. I mean, it's a big game for me, but I didn't know if people from Golden State would come and rep for me," James said. "So that was pretty nice to see."

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James got the start for Los Angeles and played 22 minutes. He scored 4 points, grabbed two rebounds and dished out two assists during his time on the court.

These numbers are in line with his collegiate stats, as he averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 25 games for the USC Trojans. While he will obviously hope to build on this as he approaches his rookie season, putting up a familiar stat line against fellow rookies is surely something he can accept.

He may be one of the most highly followed second-round picks in recent history, as he will join his father, LeBron James, with the Lakers. This will be the first time a father and son play alongside each other in NBA history.

Until then, however, the younger James will hope to improve and develop in Summer League. He will have a chance to do that next when the Lakers face the Golden State Warriors on Sunday.