The Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers will face off tonight with a roster loaded with NBA rookies.
The first rookie off the board on draft night in 2024 was Kel’el Ware, who was drafted 15th overall after a comeback season with the Indiana Hoosiers. Ware has been one of the best rookies in the short stretch so far, recording 26 points and 11 rebounds in his second game after a five-block performance.
Just two picks behind Ware, the Lakers got the biggest slider of the opening night in Dalton Knecht, who has yet to see a performance reminiscent of his red-hot days as a Tennessee Volunteer. His last game was marked by 12 points on 13 total shots, but there’s a good chance he’ll bounce back sooner rather than later with a red-hot 3-point shot and decent athleticism.
The other top rookie in the competition will be Bronny James, the son of NBA superstar LeBron James, who won two titles with the Heat.
James, the 55th overall pick by the Lakers in the second round, made an appearance in Los Angeles’ Summer League opener against the Kings, scoring four points on 2-of-9 shooting and adding two rebounds and two assists in the process. James didn’t play in the Lakers’ second game, but could bounce back against the Heat.
The two NBA titans will face off at 6 p.m. CT tonight, July 10, in the California Classic.
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