Lakers fans who tuned in to the Summer League opener to see the rookie duo of Dalton Knecht and Bronny James are now very familiar with the name Adonis Arms.
James might have been the focus of all of the pre-game buzz as he took the floor for the first time in a Lakers uniform, but it was Arms, a former Texas Tech guard without any NBA experience in two years, who shined with 32 points, 11 rebounds and five assists for the Kings.
Offense was harder to come by for James and the Lakers. James scored four points on 2-of-9 shooting (0-for-3 from 3-point range), adding two rebounds, two assists and one steal. Those totals were right in line with his season averages at USC. James also missed two free throws.
James wasn't expected to come in and light up the Summer League, which still largely features players older than he is, but the performance proved there is plenty of work ahead for the 19-year-old. Some of his early shots were just a bit too strong, while one sequence late in the game saw James pass on what looked like a good shot near the basket, only to get the ball back and force a more difficult shot.
MORE: Watch NBA Summer League games live with Sling
The Lakers are also monitoring James' progress on the defensive end, which had its ups and downs on Saturday. He had a tough moment early on while guarding Arms but later added a steal that turned into a Lakers basket. James finished minus-15 in the 108-94 loss, tied with Knecht for the team's worst mark.
Knecht struggled himself, scoring 12 points on 3-of-12 shooting. The first-round pick started to find more of a rhythm in the closing minutes, which he will hope to take into Sunday's game against the Warriors.
The Sporting News tracked live stats and highlights from Saturday's NBA Summer League game between the Lakers and Kings. Check out all of the key moments you might have missed.
Lakers vs. Kings final score
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
| Lakers | 18 | 23 | 25 | 28 | 94 |
| Kings | 23 | 24 | 32 | 29 | 108 |
Bronny James at Summer League stats, highlights from Lakers vs. Kings
(All times Eastern)
6:26 p.m. — That'll do it from the California Classic, as the Lakers fall 108-94 to the Kings in Bronny James' Summer League debut. James finished with 4 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal on 2-of-9 shooting.
6:24 p.m. — James misses shot attempt No. 9 and drops to 22.2 percent from the field on the day.
6:18 p.m. — Taking stock of the non-Bronny happenings, former St. Mary's standout Tommy Kuhse has 15 points, 8 rebounds and a pair of steals for the Lakers. Arms (32-11-5) and Antoine Davis (20 points) have carried the Kings' offense to what will be a sizable win.
6:17 p.m. — This game is out of reach for the Lakers with Sacramento up by 16, but James is on the floor with under three minutes remaining. He's 2-of-8 from the field, but Knecht has struggled even more at just 2-of-11.
6:09 p.m. — James has 4 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal on 2-of-8 shooting through 17 minutes. The Lakers trail by nine.
6:08 p.m. — Blake Hinson, who had a really nice finish to his career at Pitt, is leading the Lakers with 17 points om 5-of-8 shooting.
6:03 p.m. — The Lakers briefly pulled back within five after a 10-0 run, but the Kings answered immediately to regain momentum. James, meanwhile, is off the floor. He's played fewer minutes than any other starter.
End of third quarter: Kings 79, Lakers 66
5:54 p.m. — Adonis Arms has been the non-Bronny story today, as he has 24 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists for the Kings in a stellar performance.
5:49 p.m. — James knocks down his second basket of the day to reach four points. He's now 2-of-8 from the field.
Bronny James finds separation for the midrange J!
— NBA (@NBA) July 6, 2024
🏀 Lakers-Kings
☀️ California Classic on ESPN pic.twitter.com/q0ZmUQcXlp
5:43 p.m. — A tough sequence there for James, who passes on a shot and then takes a more difficult shot after getting the ball back in his hands. He's 1-of-7 from the field.
5:40 p.m. — James is back on the floor to start the second half, but Maxwell Lewis remains the focal point of the Lakers' offense as he scores his 11th and 12th points.
End of first half: Kings 47, Lakers 41
5:26 p.m. — James is back out of the game as halftime nears. He has 2 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist and 1 steal on 1-of-6 shooting through just under 12 minutes of action.
5:24 p.m. — Now James adds an assist as the Lakers try to cut into Sacramento's lead.
Bronny James' steal leads to Kyle Mangas' layup!
— NBA (@NBA) July 6, 2024
Watch the California Classic on ESPN! pic.twitter.com/PEkgw8XYw0
5:18 p.m. — James is sitting on two points, a rebound and a steal through 11 minutes of action. He's shooting just 1-of-6 from the field.
5:13 p.m. — Bronny has his first Summer League points! He drives to the basket to cut the Kings' lead to two.
Bronny’s first points in the NBA 🔥 pic.twitter.com/sEYymcYA9z
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) July 6, 2024
5:04 p.m. — James just subbed back into the game.
5:02 p.m. — The Lakers have all of their starters out now, with Armel Traore up to four points. Maxwell Lewis leads the way for LA with 10.
End of first quarter: Kings 23, Lakers 18
4:50 p.m. — James is subbed out of the game for former Pitt standout Blake Hinson.
4:47 p.m. — James is 0-for-2 with a rebound through six minutes of action. He's putting a bit too much on his shots. Knecht is 0-for-3, meanwhile.
4:45 p.m. — The Kings have come on strong here with a 12-0 run to take a 14-6 lead. Adonis Arms has six points for Sacramento.
4:39 p.m. — Come for Bronny James, stay for Maxwell Lewis. Lewis has all six of the Lakers' points so far.
4:38 p.m. — James' first jumper of the summer misses. He does have an early rebound on his line.
4:37 p.m. — Maxwell Lewis has the Lakers' first four points, the first two coming on a nice pass by Knecht. James is on the floor as a starter.
4:36 p.m. — Fardaws Aimaq and Kenan Blackshear are the headliners of the Kings' starting five as this game gets set to tip off.
4:28 p.m. — James and Knecht are getting ready to start the NBA Summer League in a few minutes. A reminder, though, that the Kings will be without first-round pick Devin Carter as he recovers from a shoulder injury. Sacramento is also bringing two teams to the California Classic.
3:15 p.m. — Here's a look at who James will be playing alongside in his Summer League debut.
GAME DAY
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) July 6, 2024
Meet the Summer League Squad ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/cKyLbwTq9s
Lakers Summer League schedule 2024
California Classic
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat., July 6 | Lakers vs. Kings | 4:30 p.m. | ESPN, Sling |
| Sun., July 7 | Lakers vs. Warriors | 6:30 p.m. | NBA TV, Sling |
| Wed., July 10 | Heat vs. Lakers | 7 p.m. | ESPN2, Sling |
Las Vegas Summer League
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri., July 12 | Rockets vs. Lakers | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, Sling |
| Mon., July 15 | Celtics vs. Lakers | 10:30 p.m. | NBA TV, Sling |
| Wed., July 17 | Lakers vs. Hawks | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN, Sling |
| Thurs., July 18 | Lakers vs. Cavaliers | 9 p.m. | ESPN, Sling |
How to watch Lakers vs. Kings
- Date: Saturday, July 6
- Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
- TV channel: ESPN
- Live stream: ESPN+, Sling
Lakers vs. Kings will be broadcast on ESPN on Saturday, with tip-off set for 4:30 p.m. ET. For viewers in the United States, the game can be live-streamed on ESPN+ and Sling.
Lakers' NBA Summer League roster
Here is the Lakers' complete roster for the 2024 Las Vegas Summer League:
| Number | Player |
| 4 | Dalton Knecht |
| 9 | Bronny James Jr. |
| 14 | Colin Castleton |
| 21 | Maxwell Lewis |
| 27 | Vincent Valerio-Bodon |
| 29 | Sean East II |
| 30 | Grayson Murphy |
| 31 | Tommy Kuhse |
| 36 | Blake Hinson |
| 37 | Armel Traoré |
| 39 | Mohamed Diarra |
| 41 | Quincy Olivari |
| 50 | Kyle Mangas |
| 55 | Joirdon Nicholas |
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