Lakers open Summer League with a loss

Originally posted on Ball Exclusives | By Titan Frey | Last updated Jul 6, 2025 12:12 AM ET

The NBA Summer League is officially here with four games being played tonight. One such game is the Los Angeles Lakers taking on the Golden State Warriors.

When the Lakers play the Warriors, it is normally a must-see event. LeBron James battling Stephen Curry is usually a guaranteed showstopper.

This game, of course, isn’t quite that. The NBA Summer League is where just-drafted rookies and other young players showcase their skills and try to prove their worth.

The Lakers famously only had one draft pick and selected Adou Thiero out of Arkansas. Unfortunately for Lakers fans, they were not able to see Thiero as he is out with a left knee injury.

Lakers second-round pick Adou Thiero won't participate in the team's summer league games. He's in the final stages of his return to play process from a left knee ailment he dealt with at Arkansas.

He's expected to be fully cleared for training camp.

— Khobi Price (@khobi_price) July 2, 2025

In the game, LA started off strong, outscoring Golden State 19-11 in the first quarter. Unfortunately for the Lakers, the Warriors pretty much controlled the remainder of the game.

The Warriors were led by Jackson Rowe and Isaiah Mobley, who each scored 13 points. For the Lakers, Dalton Knecht struggled shooting going 3-13 from the field and scoring 10 points.

LA saw big performances by Cole Swider, who scored 24 points, and DJ Steward, who added 20 points. Despite this, the Lakers lost 89-84.

This is only the first Summer League game, meaning these young Lakers players will get more experience and chances to play better. It should also be noted that Bronny James did not suit up for the game.

This article first appeared on Ball Exclusives and was syndicated with permission.

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