The post-LeBron James era for the Los Angeles Lakers is off to a solid start, with the team cruising against the Sacramento Kings in Monday’s preseason contest. Future Hall of Famer Luka Dončić led the charge, and Bronny James got some good minutes off the bench, showing exactly what this new-look roster can do even with Walker Kessler and Austin Reaves sidelined by injuries.
Dončić Is Already in Midseason Form, No Joke
Luka Dončić was absolutely brilliant, looking like he’s already locked and loaded for another All-Star campaign. The Lakers wasted zero time setting the tone, grabbing a massive 73-47 halftime advantage, and you know who was behind most of that? Yep, Dončić. He exploded for 21 points *before intermission*, sinking shots from beyond the arc, attacking the lane with purpose, getting to the free-throw line, and creating chances in transition. Seriously, he was facilitating like crazy when defenders collapsed on him, making life a breeze for his teammates. Quentin Grimes found his scoring touch early, and Ziaire Williams, Matisse Thybulle, Sandro Mamukelashvili, and Jake LaRavia all drained multiple threes. It’s obvious this offense is running through Dončić, and he’s already in midseason form. He was so effective, they didn’t even need him for the second half. That’s how good he looked.
Bronny James Showing Off More Than Scoring
Bronny James, on the flip side, saw plenty of court time in the second half. As a third-year playmaker, he’s typically been a secondary option off the bench for Los Angeles, so it wasn’t a shocker that head coach JJ Redick gave him a chance to really make an impact in the preseason. While he wasn’t taking over as a scorer by any means, Bronny definitely made his presence felt in other ways. He was crashing the boards hard, dishing out multiple assists, and even nailed a three-pointer. That three-point shooting is going to be super important for him if he wants to earn consistent playing time this season. Think about it: the defensive attention Dončić draws is going to open up a ton of looks, and Bronny hitting those shots makes him that much more valuable.
The Lakers get another shot to make a preseason impact this Thursday when they go up against the Golden State Warriors. It’s early, but what we saw Monday has to get fans hyped for what Luka can do to lead this team.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
Leave a Reply