Bronny James shines and Quincy Olivari makes a pitch to stick with the Lakers

The Lakers misplaced their ultimate preseason recreation the second they scheduled it. It was their sixth straight recreation away from Los Angeles because the begin of coaching camp. They performed in Phoenix on Thursday night and by no means deliberate on taking part in their starters.

However preseasons aren’t constructed to be judged on issues like profitable and dropping. They’re about preparation and set up. They’re follow video games for when issues begin for actual.

However with so many gamers unavailable — the Lakers had been with out LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Austin Reaves, D’Angelo Russell, Dalton Knecht, Gabe Vincent and Max Christie — this preseason recreation wasn’t going to be about any of that.

This one, by default, needed to be about alternative, the Lakers losing 132-74 to Golden State.

With so many minutes and so many pictures up for grabs, the Lakers’ youngest gamers had been going to get an opportunity. And solely a pair — Quincy Olivari and Bronny James — a minimum of took some benefit of it on an evening that was largely ugly.

“Our competitiveness wasn’t as much as our normal,” Lakers coach JJ Redick stated. “They know that. I don’t have to belabor the purpose.”

James and Olivari, a minimum of individually, had probably the most to be enthusiastic about. James acquired much-needed confidence. And Olivari, who was on a coaching camp contract, got here shut acing his ultimate probability within the preseason to discover a everlasting residence.

“He is an excellent man. I really like taking part in with him. Nice spirit. He performs arduous on a regular basis,” James stated of Olivari. “So it was nice that we had been each given the chance to go on the market and showcase what we will do.”

Olivari, the undrafted free agent from Xavier, scored 22 factors in 39 minutes. Earlier within the preseason, Olivari sparked the crew’s fourth-quarter comeback in Milwaukee, thanks partly to the form of three-point capturing he once more confirmed on Friday when he made 5. He completed with six rebounds.

He’s seemingly headed for the Lakers’ G League crew except he indicators both a two-way or roster contract.

“I simply desire a job within the NBA,” he stated. “Like, it’s the one factor I’ve wished.”

Whereas he additionally had six turnovers, the capturing and fervour he performed with outweighed any hiccups.

“My dad has preached the identical factor since I picked up a basketball: Did I play arduous and did I’ve enjoyable? I undoubtedly had enjoyable,” Olivari stated. “I believe yesterday after we performed the Suns, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker knew my identify. And it was identical to the most important shock. I’m 23 years outdated however each time I placed on an NBA jersey or come to an NBA follow, I’m that 8-year-old child that’s simply begging my dad to take me to an NBA recreation. So popping out in the present day, I didn’t know I used to be beginning till the sport, after we went via our scout earlier than the sport. And I used to be identical to, ‘Wow.’ First profession NBA begin within the final recreation, I’ve had this nice feeling all day. Why not capitalize?

Learn extra: Rookie Dalton Knecht shows why the Lakers think they got a steal in the draft

“So I’d undoubtedly say I took benefit as a result of I had enjoyable. And never solely did I’ve enjoyable, however I performed arduous with the chance I had and win or loss, made or miss shot, I do know I gave it my all.”

He spoke with Warriors star Stephen Curry after the sport, Olivari’s favourite participant rising up. The primary submit on the rookie’s Instagram web page is a video of him getting a Curry jersey signed at a Warriors recreation in Atlanta.

“I don’t even know what to say, man, as a result of like, that’s my favourite participant ever. And the very first thing he informed me was like, ‘I’m a giant fan of your recreation.’ And like, reality be informed, I’m a giant fan of him,” Olivari stated. “I had his jersey. He signed it twice. I used to sleep beneath that jersey. And like, I simply wished to be like him so unhealthy. So simply to have the ability to meet him, him be capable to have some respect for me and for us to speak within the again — he gave me a pair of his footwear and signed them. Like, that meant the world to me.”

James, who has struggled all through the Lakers preseason, performed his greatest basketball with the prolonged run. Slowly as the sport wore on James performed with extra confidence — making his first three of the preseason and catching a lob from Olivari for his first dunk as a professional.

He turned up his aggressiveness and performed extra decisively, capturing 17 occasions, ending with 17 factors, 4 rebounds and three steals in 35 minutes.

“Tonight I used to be given a chance to go showcase my offensive recreation,” James stated. “And I did that a little bit bit. So I really feel like my confidence, I really feel like that is the most important factor for me proper now.”

Final yr’s draft picks, Jalen Hood-Schifino and Maxwell Lewis, each did not make an actual impression in opposition to a lot of the Warriors’ regulars (Curry missed the sport with a minor finger damage and Draymond Inexperienced solely performed the primary half).

Whereas Hood-Schifino had seven assists, he additionally had six turnovers. He and Lewis mixed to shoot 5 for 20 from the sector. Cam Reddish was 1-for-11 capturing in his 25 minutes.

“All of the moments are constructing blocks. Not simply the nice moments. The unhealthy moments are studying alternatives,” Redick stated.

The Lakers are actually scheduled to follow twice earlier than opening Tuesday at residence in opposition to Minnesota of their first recreation of the season inside their residence enviornment.

“Our group is able to play,” Redick stated. “As a complete, we’ve constructed the inspiration.”

Sign up for our weekly newsletter on all things Lakers.

This story initially appeared in Los Angeles Times.