The Las Vegas Summer League typically feels like Los Angeles East, and Saturday evening’s 2018 opener was no different.
Instead of Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma, though, it was Josh Hart leading this year’s version of Lakers, and the 30th pick in the 2017 Draft went off for 24 points to lead L.A. to a 96-79 victory over Philadelphia.
Just before the tip, Hart ran over to the courtside seats next to the scorer’s table, where he shook hands with Ball, Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, JaVale McGee, Luke Walton and Rob Pelinka, all in attendance for the occasion.