Still without returnee Dennis Schröder in the squad, the Los Angeles Lakers suffered a bitter defeat at the start of preparations for the new season in the professional basketball league NBA.
New coach Darvin Ham’s team lost to the Sacramento Kings 75-105 on Monday (local time).
The German national team captain Schröder (29) is still waiting for his visa and is in Germany, only on Wednesday he should go to the USA. The man from Braunschweig had signed for a year with his former club shortly before winning the bronze medal at the European Championships at home.
Superstar LeBron James missed all seven throws from the field, the four-time NBA champion made his four points at the free-throw line. The Lakers’ top pitcher was Anthony Davis with 11 points.
Making his Lakers jersey debut was Scotty Pippen Jr. (4 points), son of Scottie Pippen, who won six titles with the Chicago Bulls alongside Michael Jordan. The season starts on October 18th, LA starts with the Golden State Warriors.