July 7th 2024.
In the bustling city of San Francisco, amidst the flurry of summer deals and speculations, the beloved sport of basketball made its long-awaited return. At the state-of-the-art Chase Center, fans were treated to an exciting three-day showcase of the California Classic Summer League, featuring some of the most promising young talents from the Warriors, Kings, Lakers, and Heat.
All eyes were on Bronny James, the son of the legendary LeBron James, as he made his professional debut in the Lakers-Kings matinee game. In the later match between the Warriors and Heat, Anthony Vereen made his first appearance as a head coach and secured a triumphant victory.
During the postgame interview, Vereen couldn't help but joke about how he must have hit his daily step goal with all the running around he did on the sidelines. Led by standout players Daeqwon Plowden and Ethan Thompson, the Warriors dominated the Heat with a final score of 105-66. It was a remarkable display of teamwork, considering the team had only practiced together a handful of times.
Of course, it's important to remember that any observations made during the Summer League should be taken with a grain of salt, especially after just one game. With that being said, here are three key takeaways from Saturday's action.
Bronny's much-anticipated introduction to the professional basketball scene was met with immense pressure, as expected for the 19-year-old. Even before the game started, he was greeted with the sound of camera clicks as he emerged from the visitor's tunnel. As the son of a basketball icon, Bronny is used to the attention and scrutiny, but the NBA spotlight is a whole different level.
His first play as a pro was on defense, and unfortunately, he was quickly dropped to the floor by a Kings Summer League player who left him stumbling with a swift crossover. Moments later, he attempted a risky pull-up jumper which missed its mark. To make matters worse, he was once again left stumbling by another crossover, leading to a score for the Kings.
Despite these early struggles, Bronny received a warm ovation when he checked back in during the second quarter. However, he quickly fouled a 3-point shooter, causing some concern among the fans. But he managed to redeem himself with a steal, a layup, and a nice pull-up jumper, saving his stat line from a potential nightmare. It's worth noting that this was all against the Sacramento B-Team, as they had split their Summer League squad between games in Sacramento and Golden State.
In the later game against the Summer League Heat, Coach Vereen started a simple, no-frills lineup consisting of Pat Spencer, Marques Bolden, Daeqwon Plowden, Reece Beekman, and Jackson Rowe. Some key players like Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis were absent, as they were training with the US Select Team in Las Vegas. Additionally, Quinten Post was on the roster but was unable to play due to injury.
However, as the saying goes, you don't need household names to shine on the court. This was proven by Pat Spencer, who put on an impressive display of speed and strength in his first full summer after recovering from hip and wrist surgeries. He showed off his signature craftiness and delivered some impressive passes during the pick-and-roll plays.
As the primary lead guard, Spencer did struggle a bit with turnovers, but overall, he had a solid performance with 16 points, five rebounds, five assists, and five turnovers. In the fourth quarter, he even managed to steal the ball and drive all the way to the basket for a coast-to-coast, and-1 jam with one hand. It's clear that his hard work during the offseason is paying off.
Teaming up with Spencer was Reece Beekman, the undrafted guard who signed a two-way deal with the Warriors. Together, they formed a formidable backcourt duo, with Beekman showcasing his defensive prowess as a two-time ACC Defensive Player of the Year. As for his offense, there were some mixed results, but his shot looked solid, and he even made an off-the-bounce 3-pointer to beat the halftime buzzer.
Coach Vereen was pleasantly surprised by Beekman's ability to push the ball and play at a fast pace, as he had primarily played a more controlled style in college. With so much space and talented shooters around him, Beekman's potential as a passer was also on full display. While neither Spencer nor Beekman are expected to make a significant impact at the NBA level this year, they are valuable depth options for the team.
In the game against the Heat, Marques Bolden caught the attention of many with his strong play in the paint. While he may have some trouble guarding quicker players on switches, his size and strength make him a force inside. On one play, he gave up a drive on the perimeter but quickly recovered to block a shot in the lane.
As a former elite high school prospect who played for Duke, Bolden has the pedigree and the physical attributes to succeed in the NBA. He also has decent hands for a center and showed a good understanding of positioning on the court. The only thing missing is the aggression to go up strong and dunk when he catches the ball inside. Against the Heat rookie Kel'el Ware, Bolden dominated with eight points, six blocks, and 13 rebounds.
While the Warriors' roster is currently quite crowded, there's no doubt that Bolden has the potential to make an impact on any team willing to give him a chance.
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