NBA Summer League: Three takeaways from Warriors’ California Classic opener vs. Lakers
Rookies missing, Bronny James a healthy scratch
Warriors fans who made the trip to Chase Center on Saturday hoping for a glimpse of recent second-round picks Alex Toohey and Will Richard were left disappointed when both were held out of the California Classic opener against the Lakers.
The Warriors told the Bay Area News Group that the duo cannot play for the team until the draft-day trades that brought them to Golden State are made official on Sunday. Summer League coach Lainn Wilson said he did not know if the two would play in Sunday’s matchup with the Spurs.
Toohey is a forward from Australia, and Richard was the starting shooting guard on Florida’s National Championship-winning team. Those two were not the only high-profile players held out of action during the Warriors’ 89-84 victory over Los Angeles.
Bronny James, the eldest son of arguably the greatest player of all-time, LeBron James, did not suit up. James averaged just 2.3 points per game in 27 regular season games last season, but put up 22 points a night in the G-League.
Rowe displays versatility, Armstrong shows skill
Second-year guard Taran Armstrong got into a minor scuffle with Lakers guard DaJuan Gordon after the Warriors guard was fouled hard going to the rim late in the first half.
He made most of his chance as the team’s 6-foot-6 point guard, scoring seven points and dishing six assists. Armstrong’s best play was a lob pass to Jackson Rowe (13 points, eight rebounds, two blocks), who finished the tough layup for two points as Steph Curry watched.
“My favorite plays were the defensive plays, getting blocks and trying to change the game that way,” Rowe said after the Warriors held Dalton Knecht to 3 of 13 shooting. “It’s been a long journey from Santa Cruz to here, and hopefully we can keep it going.”
Armstrong, the Australian 23-year-old, did not play during the regular season after being signed in February, but did average 11 points and 7.8 assists per game with Santa Cruz.
“He helps us settle down with his ballhandling and playmaking ability,” coach Wilson said.
Unheralded name, big game
The big names might have been missing, but others stepped up for the Warriors. Among them was Vanderbilt’s Chris Manon, who finished a pair of Rowe-led showtime fast breaks in the third quarter with a big dunk and a layup in the third quarter en-route to an eight-point night. Manon also had three steals and two blocks as he was dubbed a “game-changer” by his coach.
“I’m detail-oriented, and I try to do everything I can, from rebounding, getting steals and blocks. Obviously my offensive game has to come along, but I think everything else, I try to do to the best of my ability,” Manon told the Bay Area News Group.
Buzzer beaters
- Oakland native and San Leandro High alum Keshad Johnson scored nine points and grabbed nine rebounds for the Heat in their 82-69 victory in the other game at Chase Center. …. Johnson was the 2019 West Alameda County Conference Foothill co-MVP and a 2019 all-Bay Area News Group first-team selection who averaged 14.4 points per game.
- A year after tearing his Achilles in Summer League, Marques Bolden grabbed eight rebounds for the Warriors. Sacramento native Coleman Hawkins had seven points and five rebounds. Isaiah Mobley, brother of reigning Defensive Player of the Year Evan, had 13 points.
- San Jose State was well-represented on the Spurs’ summer league roster. Omari Moore, the 2023 Mountain West Conference player of the year, grabbed four rebounds but was held scoreless in 19 minutes. …. Josh Uduje, who led the 2024-25 Spartans in scoring at 16.4 ppg, scored seven points and made 3 of 5 shots in just 5:43 of action.