As early rest, Bronny 17 preseason cap

SAN FRANCISCO — While the Los Angeles Lakers rested their starters and lost to the Golden State Warriors 132-74 in their preseason finale on Friday, rookie guard Bronie James closed out the exhibition slate with some personal improvements.

Brony, the oldest son of LeBron James who was the 55th pick in the draft by L.A., started against the Warriors and scored 17 points on 7-for-17 shooting with 4 rebounds, 3 steals and 1 block in 35 minutes.

“It's a great feeling to go out there and not think as much as I did and just play,” Bronnie James said after the game.

The 20-year-old has struggled mightily in his first five preseason games, scoring a total of 8 points on 4-for-20 shooting (0-for-3 from 3) with 5 turnovers.

Friday was a different story. James made his first shot less than a minute after tip-off, scoring on a cutting layup while absorbing contact at the rim. He finally connected on a 3 in the second quarter, beating the shot clock with a 28-foot jumper from above the arc.

Lakers coach JJ Redick said it was another step in the development of James, whom LA signed to a four-year, $7.9 million contract in the offseason.

“I think for him and all of our young players, all the moments are building blocks,” Redick said. “Not just the good moments. The bad moments are learning opportunities. I think you have to have a level of patience, a level of optimism. I'm very confident in the level that our young guys have done.

“So, again, I think for him, I'm sure it's nice to get 17 points. … I'm not even remotely concerned about it. It's not even on my radar. Like, we're trying to help him be a great basketball player. will rise.”

James' preseason arc mirrored his showing during summer league play in the California Classic and Las Vegas, when he took the lumps first before scoring in double figures in his final two games, helping LA to two wins.

“[It gives me] I might not be in that rotation, maybe not play, but going to practice, maybe going out there with confidence in the G League game and playing my game,” James said. “I think that's the biggest part of it.”

The Lakers' other bright spot in the lopsided loss was rookie Quincy Oliveri, an Exhibit 10 signee who led LA with 22 points on 8-for-16 shooting (5-for-9 from 3) and 7 rebounds.

Warriors star Stephen Curry, who was ruled out of the game with a sprained finger, spent time with James and Oliveri afterward.

Oliver showed Curry a video of himself getting an autograph from the superstar guard as a child while attending a Warriors road game against the Atlanta Hawks. On Friday, Curry presented him with a pair of his sneakers and autographed them as well.

“I used to sleep under that jersey,” Oliveri said, fighting back tears as he recounted the story to reporters. “I just wanted to be as bad as him. So just to be able to meet him, he could have some respect for me and to talk behind our back — he gave me a pair of his shoes and signed them. Like, this is mine. Near means the world.”

Oliveri's Exhibit 10 contract will allow LA to retain his rights to his G League team, the South Bay Lakers. The Lakers could also choose to waive one of their three two-way players to bring them to an NBA team; However, those spots are currently occupied by big men as insurance behind Anthony Davis and Jackson Hayes, with Christian Wood injured to start the season.

“I just want a job in the NBA,” Oliveri said. “Like, that's the only thing I've wanted since I was 5 years old, and my dad always said my greatest gift was my energy. Energy can never be created or destroyed, only transferred. So I can bring energy to the team whatever it wants. Me and I bring every team up.”