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With dad LeBron courtside, Bronny James scores 11 points in Team USA win at Nike Hoop Summit

PORTLAND, Ore. – With dad LeBron James watching courtside at the Moda Center, Bronny James scored 11 points Saturday at the Nike Hoop Summit, hitting a couple key shots late and helping Team USA pull out a 90-84 win. He also chipped in four rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block.

Mom Savannah and little sister Zhuri were also in attendance watching Bronny, who struggled some in the first half of his USA Basketball debut. He shot 2-for-5 from the field in the first half, including two airballs from 3.    

At halftime, Bronny walked over to dad to get some advice, and LeBron broke down for him how to better attack the rim. (The Lakers were off Saturday, which allowed LeBron to attend in person.) 

Bronny said LeBron told him to, “keep playing my game. He knows what I’m capable of, and … he wants to see it out of me.” 

Bronny James scored 11 points in Team USA's win in the Nike Hoop Summit.

Bronny James played sparingly in the second half, but when he went in midway through the fourth quarter his play helped the Americans maintain a slim lead and eventually pull out the win. 

He hit a big 3 with 4:51 to play that gave the USA a six-point lead, then forced a turnover at the other end. 

“I like to play defense as hard as I can,” he said. “It always makes the coach happy. I really take pride in playing defense and I feel like all the next level coaches take that into consideration when they’re recruiting me.” 

A couple minutes later he scored a bucket inside after the World team had cut the Americans’ lead to three. 

“I always try to stay confident in myself, even if I’m missing shots at the beginning of the game,” James said. “I try to keep my head up and keep playing my game because I know good things are going to come.”

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'He's very unselfish'

Asked what he showed NBA scouts this week, James told reporters, “That I can defend at a high level. I’m a smart player, I can make the right plays. I’m not very ball hungry, I can give it up. Just that I’m a good player and a good teammate.”

USA coach Steve Turner praised James afterward, saying “the biggest thing about Bronny is he’s very unselfish. He can do a lot of different things at any given time. Tonight I called on him to guard their best player, and he took the assignment and worked it to a charm. He’s a big part of why we won the game tonight. 

“For a young man with so much pressure on him because of who he is and his family, he handles it like a pro. I was blessed to have the opportunity to coach him this week.”

James still hasn’t announced where he will play college basketball, though a decision is expected soon. He is considering USC, Ohio State and Memphis and has expressed interest in Oregon. 

Tons of Oregon fans showed up Saturday — most of them to watch Jackson Shelstad, a USA guard who’s committed to the Ducks. But a few fans made sure James knew he’d be welcome in Eugene, too, holding up a sign that read, “We want Bronny at Oregon”

Who played well at the Nike Hoop Summit? 

Ron Holland, a Texas signee, stood out for the Americans on Saturday night, scoring 15 points, grabbing eight rebounds, six steals and handing out five assists. He also blocked a shot. 

Four other players scored in double figures, with USC signee Isaiah Collier (11 points), Duke signee Jared McCain (10) and Kentucky signees Justin Edwards (10) and DJ Wagner (10) all contributing. 

Mackenzie Mgbako, a 6-foot-8 forward representing Nigeria who has signed with Duke, led all scorers with 22 points. He also grabbed eight rebounds. 

What is the Nike Hoop Summit? 

One of the bigger showcase events in the country for high school seniors, the Nike Hoop Summit pits Team USA against a roster of top international players under the age of 19. 

The event is a scouting feast for NBA teams, with dozens of front office executives in town all week watching practices. Most Hoop Summit players, both American and international, will declare for the 2024 NBA Draft. 

This year, the Hoop Summit added a women’s game for the first time. The U.S. women won 100-79. One women’s player from the World roster, Shaneice Swain of Australia, is expected to be picked in Monday’s WNBA Draft. 

Who else attended Nike Hoop Summit?

The showcase event Saturday was a star-studded event. Besides LeBron, both Draymond Green and Steve Kerr of the Warriors were courtside (Golden State plays the Blazers in the last game of the regular season on Sunday). 

Former NBA All-Star Peja Stojakovic was in attendance too, watching his son Andrej, a Stanford signee, play for the World team. Chris Bosh watched the game while sipping wine. Another former All-Star, Carlos Boozer, called the game for NBATV. Boozer’s twin boys, Cameron and Cayden, are two of the top sophomores in the country, and should play in the 2025 Hoop Summit.

Turner, the USA coach, said coaching a game with LeBron James courtside was a unique experience and that his reaction was “like the kids, man” — as in, he can get a little starstruck.  

“More importantly, it’s special for them,” Turner said. “They got a chance tonight to see some of the people, some of the coaches, who they aspire to have an opportunity to play for and play with at some point in their life. Those guys were out there cheering them on. For years, they’ve been the ones cheering those guys on. 

“To have an experience like this is something all these guys will never forget. I certainly won’t.”

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