Mike Trudell
@LakersReporter
Beat reporter for @Lakers; @SpectrumSN 📺 sideline reporter/host/analyst; @southbaylakers PXP 🎙; @NorthwesternU alum; IG: @MikeTrudell.
Smart on the chance to win in LA: "It's at the top. The main goal, the reason you go out and compete the way you compete is to try to win championships. What better place to be able to do that than here, where the show starts and the show ends? Being able to get back on that…
Marcus Smart on where he's at mentally: "I'm very motivated. The last two years were a disappointment. Injuries kind of stopped me and held me back ... (but) everything happens for a reason and I look at those reasons was for me to be here. For people to look at me and say 'maybe…
Marcus Smart on choosing the Lakers: "There's a lot of reasons, but the main one: being able to play with Luka and LeBron, two of the best to do it in this game. Two greats with the greatest basketball IQ that I've ever seen in this era. And when you get a guy like Luka calling…
Three takeaways from LA’s Vegas portion of Summer League, looking into coach Lindsey Harding, Bronny’s strong play (14.3P, 3.8A, 2.5R in 24.3 mpg on 47.6% FG’s) and Christian Koloko’s rim protection: nba.com/lakers/news/th…
Cole Swider is off to a hot start in LA’s final game in Vegas, with 13 points in 7 minutes as LA trail DEN 21-19.
Bronny James finished with 18 points, all in the 4th Q, plus 5 assists, 3 boards and 1 steal in an 87-78 loss to BOS in Vegas. Christian Koloko added 12 points, 6 boards, 6 blocks and 2 steals to reach 14 stocks in the last two games (3B, 3S vs. LAC).
Bronny James has all 13 of his points in this 4th Q after taking only 1 shot in the first 3, hitting 5 of 8 with a pair of FT's off and-1's. LA trail 78-67 with 4:26 to play.
Christian Koloko has been excellent at the rim defensively once again, up to 3 blocks with 1 steal in his 14 minutes, along with 8 points and 5 rebounds in a 1-point game.
The Lakers led 26-21 after the 1st Q, but hit a dry spell on offense in the 2nd, and trail 40-35 at halftime. Bazley had 8 points and 4 boards in 8 minutes off the bench before his injury.
Darius Bazley, who’s had a strong summer for the Lakers as he battles to get back on an NBA roster in the fall, went down in the 2nd Q with an injury and had to be carted off to the locker room. We’ll look for an update after the game.
Good start for Bronny in Vegas, as he skied for a rebound amongst the bigs, then set up Koloko for a dunk against Boston in the first minute. James Jr. is coming off a 17-point, 5-assist, 5-rebound performance in 25 minutes vs. LAC.
Lakers starters for tonight's Summer League action in Vegas: DJ Steward, Bronny James, Dalton Knecht, Cole Swider and Christian Koloko
LAC pulled away late in a 67-58 final. Bronny James finished with 17 points on 6 of 10 FG’s (3 of 5 from 3) with 5 boards and 5 assists.
The Lakers trail LAC 32-31 in a defensive battle in Vegas. Bronny James hit all 4 of his FG’s (2 3’s) to lead LA with 12 points plus 4 boards and 3 assists, towards a team-best +8. Christian Koloko had some strong minutes as well.
The Lakers beat the Pelicans 94-81: - Cole Swider: 21P, 10R, 4A, 4 3’s - Darius Bazley: 12P, 10R, 4A, 2S, 5B - Christian Koloko: 13P, 7R, 2A, 3B - Bronny James: 14P, 3A, 2S, 1B
Koloko and Bazley have combined for 5 blocks already, with LA holding a 42-36 lead early in the 3rd Q; four Lakers have at least 6 points in a balanced attack thus far.
Lakers start with DJ Steward, Bronny James, Cole Swider, Darius Bazley and Christian Koloko. Dalton Knecht is out tonight as LA manage minutes; Knecht has played four games in the last week including 3 at the California Classic.