Second-year Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James could miss the team’s season-opener against the Golden State Warriors with an ankle sprain.
On Sunday, Bronny was only a “modified participant” in practice, per Khobi Price of The Orange County Register, and remains “day-to-day,” as listed by the Lakers. Bronny, who missed Friday’s preseason finale, could potentially be doubtful to recover in time to take the court against the Warriros on Oct. 21.
Last season, Bronny and LeBron James made history during the Lakers’ season opener, becoming the first father-son duo to take the court as teammates in the NBA. While LeBron (sciatica) won’t be returning to action until mid-November, Bronny could also miss time depending on the severity of his persisting ankle issue.
Bronny James Enters Second Year
Bronny James enters his sohpmore season with high expectations, after a terrific rookie campaign in the G League for the South Bay Lakers.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick is happy with the progress made by his young guard.
“He is so much more comfortable and confident as a player,” Redick said of Bronny on October 4, via The Associated Press.
“Skill-wise, read-wise, all of those things have improved, but there’s a big difference between improving those things in individual workouts and small group settings and doing it 5-on-5.
“… He’s a totally different player than he was a year ago. I thought the stuff that he did down in the G League last year was huge for him in developing a comfort level in playing at this level.”
Lakers Predicted to Win 36 Games
The Lakers had a productive offseason, adding Marcus Smart, Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia to a team that finished with the second seed last year. Yet, JJ Redick’s team is predicted to win only 36 games, according to a simulation by ESPN’s Kevin Pelton.
ESPN’s Tim Bontemps believes the Lakers have many roster holes, from weak interior and perimeter defense to outside shooting, and won’t be able to compete with powerhouses such as Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets.
“The Lakers — fairly — believe a team led by Doncic and James can contend with anyone,” Bontemps wrote on Oct. 13.
“However, that requires both players to be healthy. And with James already dealing with a sciatica problem that threatens the start of his season for the first time in his remarkable career — plus his status as the league’s oldest player, who is approaching his 41st birthday — health is going to be a constant question. And that’s before the potential shooting issues, as well as the perimeter and interior defensive concerns for this team.”
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