PALM DESERT — Anybody hoping to see the first NBA father-son duo share the floor will have to wait at least one more game.
Lakers star LeBron James won’t be available for the team’s Friday preseason opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Acrisure Arena, which was first reported by ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
The 39-year-old James is expected to be available for Sunday’s preseason exhibition against the Phoenix Suns at Acrisure Arena.
Lakers coach JJ Redick told reporters Thursday that James and Anthony Davis – who are coming off winning gold medals with Team USA at the Paris Olympics – would play this weekend.
James’ son, Lakers rookie guard Bronny James, who turns 20 on Sunday, could play in his first NBA game Friday.
“Of course, there are nerves,” the younger James said after the team’s Friday morning shootaround. “Comes with everything. But I’m just excited to go out there and learn and learn from the people playing in front of me.
“And if I get a chance to showcase my game, then I’m going to do that to the best of my ability.
Bronny James, whom the Lakers drafted in the second round, said he expects to get in-game advice from his dad in a similar way he did during high school at Sierra Canyon and his lone collegiate season at USC.
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“Pretty much the same thing but now we’re teammates,” Bronny said. So it’s going to be more in-depth talk about the game and stuff like that. I’m ready for it.”
First-round pick Dalton Knecht could also play his first NBA game Friday.
“I’d just say get a couple of games underneath my belt and just get comfortable out there,” Knecht responded when asked how he’d judge success during preseason. “It’s a whole different game. But it’s gonna be fun. A good adjustment. I got good vets and good guys to learn off of in LeBron, AD, Austin [Reaves], [D’Angelo Russell] and all those type of guys. The more I play out there, the more confident I’ll get.”