The 2024 NBA Summer League starts Friday in Las Vegas and Bronny James headlines the talent in Friday’s slate of games.
Alongside first-round pick Dalton Knecht, James — the No. 55 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft out of USC — will lead the Los Angeles Lakers into their Las Vegas Summer League lid-lifter vs. the Houston Rockets at 7:30 p.m. ET inside the Thomas & Mack Center.
It’s been a tough start to the summer for both James and the Lakers, who dropped all three of their games in the California Classic Summer League last week to the Miami Heat, Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors.
MORE: Watch Bronny James take on the Houston Rockets in the NBA Summer League on Fubo (free trial)
Meanwhile, Friday night’s contest in Las Vegas will be the first Houston has played this season. The Rockets’ summer league roster is headlined by No. 3 overall pick Reed Sheppard and 2023 first-round pick Cam Whitmore. Sheppard shot 53.6% from the floor and a nation-best 52.1% from 3-point range last season at Kentucky, where he was the SEC’s Freshman of the Year.
With that, follow along here for live updates, highlights and scores of Bronny James and the Lakers’ NBA Summer League game vs. the Houston Rockets on Friday:
Lakers vs Rockets summer league box score
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
| Los Angeles Lakers | — | — | — | — | — |
| Houston Rockets | — | — | — | — | — |
Lakers vs. Rockets summer league updates, highlights
This section will be updated close to tipoff, which is slated for 7:30 p.m. ET
All times Eastern
7:12 p.m.: Bronny James and the Lakers have taken the court for warm-ups in Las Vegas ahead of tonight’s NBA Summer League contest vs. the Rockets. James is averaging 3.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 25.3 minutes across two games this summer.
6:58 p.m.: Bronny James is in the lineup Friday for the Lakers summer league game vs. the Rockets:
6:57.: Just about 30 minutes until tip-off in Las Vegas. Lakers vs. Rockets will start after the conclusion of the New Orleans Pelicans vs. Minnesota Timberwolves game concludes.
6:05 p.m.: Dalton Knecht led the Lakers in points in their 80-76 loss to the Miami Heat on July 10, with 20 points on 7-of-18 shooting from the field. Colin Castleton led Los Angeles in rebounding with 11 boards.
6:04 p.m.: Under an hour and half from tip-off in Las Vegas, where Bronny James and the Lakers will take on the Rockets.
5:54 p.m.: Classy tribute here by the NBA, as it has put together a tribute seat for late NBA and Lakers legend Jerry West courtside at the Thomas & Mack Arena in Las Vegas. West passed away on June 12 at the age of 86. Famously known as “The Logo” of the NBA, West played all 14 seasons in the NBA with the Lakers.
How to watch Lakers vs Rockets summer league game on TV?
ESPN will broadcast the Lakers and Rockets 2024 NBA Summer League game on Friday, July 12 at 7:30 p.m. ET from the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
How to stream Lakers vs Rockets summer league game?
You can stream Friday’s 2024 Las Vegas NBA Summer League contest between the Lakers and Rockets on the ESPN app by logging in with your TV provider credentials, on ESPN+ or on Fubo, which carries the ESPN family of networks and offers a free trial to select users.
What time is Lakers vs Rockets summer league game?
- Date: Friday, July 12
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Bronny James and the Lakers will take on the Houston Rockets in Game 1 of the Las Vegas Summer League on Friday, July 12 at 7:30 p.m. ET inside the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
Yes. James is once again in the lineup for the Lakers. It is his third start this summer for Los Angeles.
How many points has Bronny James scored?
In two games in San Francisco — he did not play in the Lakers vs. the Warriors on July 7 due to a coaches’ decision — James finished with a combined seven points on 3-of-12 shooting (25%) from the field.
On the Lakers official roster, James is listed at 6-foot-2.
When does Bronny James play next?
James next plays Friday, July 12 against the Houston Rockets at 7:30 p.m. ET in Game 1 of the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
No. LeBron James is currently in Abu Dhabi with USA Basketball for two exhibition games against Australia and Serbia before heading off to the 2024 Paris Olympics. The four-time NBA champion is competing in his first Olympics with USA Basketball since the 2012 London Olympics.
Bronny James summer league stats
In two games in the California Summer League last week, James averaged 3.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 25.3 minutes per game while shooting 25% from the field. James did not play in the Lakers’ 92-68 loss against the Golden State Warriors on Sunday, July 7 due to a coach’s decision.
Here’s a game-by-game breakdown of James’ stats from the California Classic Summer League:
- Game 1 vs. Sacramento Kings: Four points on 2-of-9 shooting from the field (0-for-3 from 3), two rebounds, two assists and an assist
- Game 2 vs. Golden State Warriors: Did Not Play — Coach’s Decision
- Game 3 vs. Miami Heat: Three points on 1-for-3 shooting from the field, five rebounds, three blocks, three assists and two steals
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What is Bronny James’ contract?
- Length: Four years
- Total value: $7.9 million
James signed a four-year/$7.9 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday, July 3 after the Lakers selected the USC guard with the No. 55 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. As noted by Field of 68 Network’s Jeff Goodman, James’ contract with the Lakers is one of the bigger contracts for a player taken with the No. 55 overall pick in recent year. Last year’s No. 55 overall pick, Miami’s Isaiah Wong, signed a two-way contract with the Indiana Pacers that was worth around $600,000 and $700,000 per Goodman.
Here’s a breakdown of James’ Annual Average Value (AAV) per year according to ESPN:
- 2024-25: $1.15 million
- 2025-26: $1.95 million
- 2026-27: $2.29 million
- 2027-28: $2.48 million
Knecht, who went No. 17 overall to the Lakers in the 2024 NBA Draft, has started in all three summer league games this summer for Los Angeles. In those games, Knecht averaged 14.6 points.
Here’s a game-by-game breakdown of Knecht’s stats from the California Classic Summer League:
- Game 1 vs. Sacramento Kings: 12 points on 3-of-12 shooting from the field (1-of-4 from 3), four assists, two steals and two rebounds
- Game 2 vs. Golden State Warriors: 12 points on 3-of-13 shooting from the field (1-of-3 from 3), two steals, two rebounds and an assist
- Game 3 vs. Miami Heat: 20 points on 7-of-18 shooting from the field (2-of-8 from 3), nine rebounds and one assist
Here is the Lakers’ summer league schedule, including their three games in the California Classic Summer League:
| Date | Opponent |
| Saturday, July 6 | Sacramento 108, Los Angeles 94 (California Classic Summer League) |
| Sunday, July 7 | Golden State 92, Los Angeles 68 (California Classic Summer League) |
| Wednesday, July 10 | Miami 80, Los Angeles 76 (California Classic Summer League) |
| Friday, July 12 | Los Angeles vs. Houston (NBA Summer League) |
| Monday, July 15 | Los Angeles vs. Boston (NBA Summer League) |
| Wednesday, July 17 | Los Angeles vs. Atlanta (NBA Summer League) |
| Thursday, July 18 | Los Angeles vs. Cleveland (NBA Summer League) |
Here’s the Lakers’ full 2024 Summer League roster:
Listed in numerical order
Guards
- No. 4 Dalton Knecht (Tennessee)*
- No. 9 Bronny James (USC)*
- No. 27 Vincent Valerio-Bodon (Sopron KC — Hungary)
- No. 29 Sean East II (Missouri)*
- No. 30 Grayson Murphy (Belmont)*
- No. 31 Tommy Kuhse (Saint Mary’s)
- No. 41 Quincy Olivari (Xavier)*
- No. 50 Kyle Mangas (Indiana Wesleyan)
Forwards
- No. 14 Colin Castleton (Florida)
- No. 21 Maxwell Lewis (Pepperdine)
- No. 36 Blake Hinson (Pittsburgh)*
- No. 37 Armel Traore (ABA Blois — France)*
- No. 39 Mohamed Diarra (NC State)*
- No. 55 Joirdon Nicholas (Texas Southern)
* denotes rookie status
Here is the Rockets’ summer league schedule:
| Date | Opponent |
| Friday, July 12 | Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers (NBA Summer League) |
| Sunday, July 14 | Houston Rockets vs. Washington Wizards (NBA Summer League) |
| Monday, July 15 | Houston Rockets vs. Detroit Pistons (NBA Summer League) |
| Thursday, July 18 | Houston Rockets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA Summer League) |
Here’s the Rockets’ full 2024 Summer League roster:
Listed in numerical order
Guard
- No. 14 AJ Griffin (Duke)
- No. 15 Reed Sheppard (Kentucky)*
- No. 19 Nate Williams (Buffalo)
- No. 41 Nate Hinton (Houston)
- No. 55 Trevor Keels (Duke)
- No. 56 Mike Miles (TCU)*
- No. 57 Shahada Wells (McNeese State)*
- No. 58 Vonterius Woolbright (Western Carolina)*
- No. 60 Kira Lewis Jr. (Alabama)
Forward
- No. 00 Jermaine Samuels Jr. (Villanova)
- No. 3 N’Faly Dante (Oregon)*
- No. 7 Cam Whitmore (Villanova)
- No. 59 Orlando Robinson (Fresno State)
- No. 61 Fabian White Jr. (Houston)*
- No. 62 Morris Udeze (New Mexico)*
* denotes rookie status
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