Roosevelt Winbush, respected faith leader in Orange County, dies

• July 8, 2023

Roosevelt Winbush, a leader in Orange County’s African American faith community, has died. He was 93.

Winbush died as a result of complications from a fall on June 20, family members said. A memorial service was held Friday, July 7 at Eastside Christian Church in Anaheim.

Born and raised in Dawson, Georgia, during the Jim Crow laws era, Winbush wanted a safe and better life for his family. In order to escape the Ku Klux Klan, he took his wife and four daughters to his mother’s house before he fled Georgia to Orange County in 1958.

He found employment in construction in Yorba Linda, working on projects such as the development of the 91 and 57 freeways. In the late 1950s, once he got his footing on the West Coast, Winbush sent for his wife and four daughters to join him from Georgia.

“When we came to Orange County in 1958, there were only certain places that would rent to Black people,” said one of his daughters, Liz Edwards. She said her father worked two jobs in order to provide for his family.

Winbush became an active member of Community Temple Baptist Church in Santa Ana and served there about 30 years, becoming the head deacon and chairman of the deacon board.

With a deep love for gospel music, he sang at churches around Orange County. His lifelong journey as a gospel singer began in Georgia in the “chitlin’ circuit,” which was an informal network of venues where Black performers could entertain during the era of segregation.

Edwards said that the Winbush family encountered “traumatic” racism in Orange County, but found refuge in the faith, and in her father’s service as a deacon and gospel singer.

“Community Temple was a community where Black people can meet once or twice a week and feel safe,” Edwards said.

Tony Simon, now a pastor of the Covenant City Church in Santa Ana, was a member of Winbush’s quartet group. He said that Winbush inspired him to start singing.

“I watched him sing with the energy he did, and it made me want to do that,” Simon said.

Simon added that he considered Winbush a mentor in his professional and personal life.

“He mentored me from age 14 to 15 to right now,” Simon said. “So he’s been in our life, teaching us about life, about singing, how to take care of a family. Next to my dad, he’s the next closest thing.”

Loren McAdoo, one of Winbush’s seven grandchildren, recounted his grandfather’s impact, especially on Black Christians in the region. He explained that the Black churches in Orange County made up “one giant community,” so members of each church would interact with each other regularly.

“Whether it was something just as simple as keeping the church grounds nice, he would do that; helping someone who was in need, someone who was hungry, somebody who just needed a word of encouragement, so he was always just looking out for the community in general,” McAdoo said.

In retirement, Winbush started his own gardening service. He meticulously tended to his own lawn and his children’s own yards, before expanding his business by word of mouth to help out his neighbors. He died in Yorba Linda after living there for over 40 years.

At the service, Winbush’s loved ones, Community Temple Baptist Church ministers and other local faith leaders gathered to pay tribute to Roosevelt’s life and legacy.

“What he meant to the community was that no matter your talent, no matter what you’re confident or not confident in, there is always a role for you, and you can be a blessing to anybody,” McAdoo said before the service.

Winbush is survived by his wife of over 73 years, Lizzie; his four daughters, Charlie, Mattie, Elizabeth, Mary, seven grandchildren and many great-grandkids.

​ Orange County Register 

John Stossel: Jimmy Lai is a remarkable man, and a hero of freedom

• July 8, 2023

This week, while we celebrate the work of America’s founders, I honor a living freedom fighter: billionaire businessman Jimmy Lai.

When Communist China crushed freedom in Hong Kong, Lai could have gone anywhere in the world and lived a life of luxury. But he chose to stay in Hong Kong and go to jail.

A new documentary, “The Hong Konger,” tells his story.

Lai grew up in poverty in China.

“My mother was (imprisoned) in a labor camp,” he recalls. “We were just 5 or 6 and managing ourselves without an adult in the household. When I was 8 and 9, I worked in the railway station carrying people’s baggage.”

There he learned about a little British-controlled island near China called Hong Kong, where people were less poor. So he went there “in the bottom of a fishing junk, together with maybe 100, maybe 80, people, and everybody vomiting.”

Once in Hong Kong, he was amazed at how plentiful food was. “I never saw so many things for breakfast. I was so moved. I was crying.”

He got a job in a sweatshop. “We had to wake up before 7 and worked until 10 p.m. But it was a very happy time … a time that I know I had a future.”

The chance to have a future makes such a difference.

At the time, Hong Kong was an unusually free country. Police enforced law and order, but otherwise, the British rulers left people alone. That allowed people to prosper.

“The British gave us the institutions of freedom,” says Lai. “Rule of law, free speech, the free market … That created the best in the world. That was very enlightening for me.”

Lai eventually saved enough money to start a clothing business. “I started a very small factory. Eventually we became one of the biggest sweater factories in Hong Kong.” Gradually, his clothing business, Giordano, made him rich.

Lai assumed that the Communist Chinese, seeing the prosperity in Hong Kong, would leave the island alone. After all, even the Communists were embracing some capitalism.

“I thought China is going to be changed,” says Lai. “China is going to be like Western country that I’ve been to. I was very excited.”

But then came the Tiananmen Square massacre. That inspired Lai to start a media company. Media are important, he said, because they deliver information, “which is choice, and choice is freedom.”

Lai’s media business thrived. He covered Chinese government abuses when other Hong Kong media wouldn’t. “Everybody was so chickened out, so scared. They went into self-censorship to avoid offending the Communists.”

Even foreign investors kept quiet to protect their investments in China.

Then, in 2020, China passed a “national security” law that declared it illegal for Hong Kongers to criticize the Chinese government.

“It became impossible for media to survive!” complained Lai. “Whatever we say can be sedition.”

A conviction for sedition would mean jail time, three years to life.

But Lai kept his paper open.

“If we just surrender,” he said, “We will lose the rule of law. Lose the freedom. We will lose everything.”

Hong Kong did lose its freedom, but Lai still refused to leave. “I came here without anything. … I owe freedom my life. … Don’t think about the consequences. Do what is right.”

For publishing the truth about the Communist government, Lai was arrested and sentenced to five years in jail. Chinese officials say they may add more years.

Still, Lai says he doesn’t regret his decision to stay.

“It would be so boring just being a businessman. I want to make my life more meaningful and interesting. That’s why I got into the trouble I got into today. And I’m happy to have it.”

Happy?

Jimmy Lai is a remarkable man, and a hero of freedom.

You can watch the whole documentary about him at FreeJimmyLai.com.

Every Tuesday at JohnStossel.com, Stossel posts a new video about the battle between government and freedom. He is the author of “Give Me a Break: How I Exposed Hucksters, Cheats, and Scam Artists and Became the Scourge of the Liberal Media.”

​ Orange County Register 

John Phillips: The 2024 presidential race could be very fun

• July 8, 2023

For the 2024 presidential election, American voters might be considering a deeply corrupt candidate known for his bizarre outbursts whose mental capacity is seriously in doubt.

What the Democrats see in Joe Biden I’ll never understand.

Add to that appealing notion, Donald Trump could very well be the Republican nominee for president of the United States.

Of course, a lot could change between now and November 2024.

Even one felony conviction could cripple Donald Trump’s chances of being re-elected president.

Then again, it would also make him a shoo-in for the next governor of Illinois.

Many saw Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as a more palatable version of Donald Trump.

But so far DeSantis has proven to be about as popular as Bud Light at a Kid Rock concert.

All things being equal, and absent some unforeseen event, we are likely looking at Biden versus Trump, the sequel.

And that means some voters will be looking for alternatives.

But here’s a wrinkle to consider: in presidential politics, whenever a strong third-party candidate makes the November ballot, said candidate actually has a pathway to winning the election without getting 50% plus one.  In fact, in 1992, then-Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton won the presidential election with 43% of the popular vote and 69% of the electoral vote, defeating incumbent George H. W. Bush and Reform Party candidate H. Ross Perot. Perot pulled an impressive 19% of the popular vote in that election.

In 2024, we could be looking at up to three prominent third-party candidates for president.

Plus a fourth-party candidate, Marianne Williamson.

Marianne Williamson had high hopes of winning the White House in 2020, but it just wasn’t in the tarot cards. But hey, maybe the second time’s a charm!

According to Politico, the centrist political organization called No Labels is considering running a third-party presidential ticket, figuring that there’s a broad voter appetite for a candidate running in the political center (such as it is).

No Labels has been flirting openly with recruiting a moderate household name like Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, to lead its ticket.

No Labels is planning an April convention in Dallas — purposely scheduled after Republican voters go to the polls on Super Tuesday — at which they will make their decision.

If Trump is the GOP nominee next year, No Labels will likely nominate a third-party candidate.

If not, they’ll go back to being a group that nobody has ever heard of.

In June, academic and left-wing activist Cornel West announced he’s running as a candidate for the People’s Party.

West took to Twitter in a video and declared, “I have decided to run for truth and justice, which takes the form of running for president of the United States as a candidate for the People’s Party … I enter for the quest for truth. I enter for the quest of justice. And the presidency is just one vehicle we pursue that truth and justice.”

West, a fixture on the chat show circuit and charismatic character, would offer a safe place on the ballot for Democratic voters who aren’t happy with Biden.

West has since decided to seek the nomination of the Green Party, which currently has ballot access in over a dozen states.

Another potential third-party candidate is current longshot Democrat Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

So far, Kennedy’s pitch has been decidedly post-partisan.

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When explaining his candidacy to my pal and former radio colleague Drew Pinsky, Kennedy said, “My aim is to convince every Democrat that you’re not a Democrat … and every Republican that you’re not a Republican.”  In describing Kennedy’s unconventional campaign, Vice surmised, “While the endgame is unclear, the type of coalition-building and appearance-making he’s doing suggests that Kennedy could be laying the groundwork to run as a third-party candidate — something he is, at the least, not denying.”

Ironically, the numerous debates over COVID and vaccines have been the proverbial shot in the arm for RFK Jr.’s campaign.

When it’s all said and done, we could have one major third-party candidate on the ballot … or we could have three.  And we also could end up with Donald Trump winning a second term as president with 43% of the vote … or less.

Buckle up!

John Phillips can be heard weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. on “The John Phillips Show” on KABC/AM 790.

​ Orange County Register 

Gardening: The glorious growth of an unlikely farm success

• July 8, 2023

John and Molly Chester were living in a small apartment in Santa Monica when, suddenly, they had a problem. Their newly acquired dog, Todd, was barking eight hours a day. They tried everything to change his behavior but nothing worked. Neighbors complained and, finally, their landlord evicted them.

This was the beginning of a journey that would lead to the rehabilitation of a 200-acre farm in Moorpark, located northwest of Los Angeles, 15 miles north of Thousand Oaks. Initially, the Chesters had modest expectations of starting a small farm, perhaps ten acres in size, where Todd could roam freely and they could grow the vegetables and fruits that Molly, a chef by trade, was seeking as a source of fresh produce. As luck would have it, they found an investor who wanted to take on a project of much greater magnitude.

With no farming experience, the Chesters searched “traditional farming” on the Internet, seeking individuals who would want to participate in their venture. By traditional farming, they meant growing crops without any artificial inputs such as manufactured fertilizers and pesticides.

They then made the acquaintance of Alan York, who came with a reputation for instituting biodynamic practices in California vineyards. Think of biodynamic farming as organic agriculture to the nth degree, with highly specific criteria for creating the ideal environment for any agricultural enterprise. For example, biodynamic compost must contain chamomile, valerian, yarrow, stinging nettle, dandelion, oak bark, horsetail, and horn manure. Horn manure is created when a cow’s horn is filled with cow manure and then buried underground for the winter. Furthermore, whereas an organic farmer may simply spray an organic pesticide to dispatch aphids or thrips, a biodynamic farmer will create conditions that will encourage insect pest predators such as ladybugs and lacewings to take up residence so that no pesticides of any kind are needed.

Another requirement of Alan York for the Chesters’ future farm was the construction of an enormous worm composting facility. The compost tea made from worm castings, a euphemism for worm poop, is highly effective when sprayed on plants. You don’t have to be a biodynamic farmer to make this tea. Anyone can make it as long as there is a regular supply of kitchen scraps available along with a few handfuls of red wiggler worms, the kind used for fish bait. Worm composting bins are readily available through online vendors.

Monoculture, where a single crop or single variety of a crop is grown, often leads to insect pest and disease problems. Since the pest resistance of plants in a monoculture is uniform, if a few plants are affected by a particular pest, there is a good chance that all of the crop will be affected by it. Keeping this in mind, 75 different varieties of fruit trees were planted.

Among the most devastating pests encountered on the farm were gophers. Cover crops had been planted in between the rows of fruit trees. On the plus side, sheep grazed in the cover crops, getting fat and, at the same time, depositing manure where they grazed, enriching the earth. Another benefit of cover crops, especially on sloping terrain, is that they trap and store rainfall – that would otherwise run off – in the soil below. 

Gophers were not all bad since they did an outstanding job of aerating the soil. But a problem arose when – attracted to the succulent growth of the cover crops – they began chewing on the roots of the fruit trees, leading to their death. To address this problem, owl nesting boxes were constructed and, in the course of one year, 87 owls consumed 15,000 gophers. Barn owls – those with the phantom of the opera faces –- had come to the rescue. These owls are found throughout North America although they are seldom seen. But as they say, “If you build it (an owl nesting box in this instance), they will come.”

There was another serious pest of the avian kind that the owls helped to control. Starlings had been ravaging the tree crops. Fully 70% of the fruit were damaged by these birds. It so happens that owls are fond of feasting on young starlings and that’s what they did here. Also, in the course of time, hawks and falcons, which also make a meal of starlings and do a good job of scaring them off, began to be seen more frequently overhead.

Yet another fruit tree problem developed when hordes of snails began to devour citrus foliage. This time it was ducks to the rescue. A raft of 100 ducks consumed 90,000 snails, not only saving the citrus trees, but – as part of the bargain – transforming mollusks into valuable duck manure.

Alan York had told the Chesters it would take seven years to achieve the balance with nature that would allow the farm to thrive, and it was in the seventh and eighth years that – confirming York’s prediction – it began to prosper. “The Biggest Little Farm,” a prize-winning film about the farm’s genesis and progress that was made by John Chester, is widely available for online viewing. You can make arrangements to take a tour of the farm at apricotlanefarms.com.

• • •

On July 15th and 16th from 10:30 am – 4 pm at the Sherman Gardens (thesherman.org) at 2647 E. Coast Hwy. in Corona Del Mar, six plant societies will be exhibiting and selling species from their chosen botanical categories as follows: ferns, orchids, begonias, bromeliads, carnivorous plants, and plumerias. Admission is free for members and $5 for non-members.

California native of the week: Dune tansy (Tanacetum camphoratum/bipinnatum) is a ground cover with many special qualities. It can grow in clay soil, has foliage that will remind you of a fern, yellow pom-pom flowers, and it spreads easily due to its rhizomatous roots. Furthermore, it has a fragrance reminiscent of camphor, as indicated by its species name. If you are planting a garden of native aromatic plants, this species, no doubt, would be among them. Other natives with fragrant foliage include Catalina perfume (Ribes viburnifolium), many sages (Salvia spp.), yarrow (Achillea millefolium), mugwort (Artemisia douglasii), and chaparral currant (Ribes malvaceum).

If you know of any farms in the area that you think would be worthwhile for readers of this column to visit, send that information to [email protected]. Your questions and comments regarding any plant species or gardening practice, as well as photos, are always welcome.

​ Orange County Register 

Three warnings about the 2024 election season

• July 8, 2023

As elections approach, sweeping generalizations have a certain allure that often energizes the frustrated and captivates the hopeful. However, it’s essential that we as voters remember that things that seem too good to be true typically are. Here are a few warnings.

First, as far as our finances go, beware of politicians promising that they won’t touch Social Security and Medicare. In reality, they’ll have no choice. For one thing, if they keep this hollow promise, Social Security benefits will be cut across the board in 2033 by over 20%. According to the Committee for a Responsible Budget, that’s a cut of between $12,000 and $17,000 annually for a traditional retired couple. Medicare faces the same predicament for a variety of reasons.

The only workaround from this reality, which has been known for decades, is for Democrats and Republicans to finally come together for serious reform. That will likely result in a reduction of benefits and an increase in taxes. As unpleasant as it will be, we’d better hope that politicians don’t take the cowardly path and resort to shoving the problem onto Uncle Sam’s proverbial credit card (by paying all benefits that exceed payroll-tax receipts out of general revenues).

As the Manhattan Institute’s Brian Riedl noted recently, “Social Security and Medicare are projected by the CBO to spend $156 trillion in benefits but collect only $87 trillion in payroll taxes and premiums. This $69 trillion cash shortfall will have to be financed by budget deficits, which will in turn be responsible for $47 trillion of interest costs on the national debt.” Who will lend the U.S. government $114 trillion, even at unprecedentedly high interest rates?

That’s a question voters should ask politicians who promise never to touch entitlement programs. Those who claim it’s an easy fix by taxing the rich should be immediately dismissed as unserious. The numbers don’t add up. Any other one-sided ideological answers to an accounting question won’t cut it, either.

Politicians are also masters of making complex societal problems appear as if they can be solved easily with a single piece of legislation. For instance, voters should beware of politicians promising to improve social media and online retailing by hammering Big Tech with antitrust lawsuits, as if these companies represent true monopolies. Google, Amazon and today’s other large tech firms grew so successfully only because consumers chose to buy their services, and they will remain successful and large only as long as consumers continue to do so.

Every allegedly “dominant” tech firm has competitors just waiting for it to get lazy or fail. In such a fast-changing industry, these competitors will swoop in and quickly take market share. Or a firm that makes too many mistakes will be bought out by investors who aim to improve its performance. Think here of Elon Musk purchasing Twitter.

To use antitrust against successful firms is to obstruct the operation of very complex patterns of commercial organization that no politician or government lawyer can hope to understand. The kind of antitrust interventions now demanded by populists on the Left and Right would be like angry bulls in a china shop. They’ll be able to destroy, but all that they’ll create is rubble.

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Finally, be careful as politicians skillfully play the populist card, painting a picture of “us” against “them” and tapping into deep-seated fears and frustrations. For instance, beware of the claim that many economic problems stem from foreign competition and can easily be solved by applying a blanket 10% tariff across all imports. These tariffs are supposed to encourage firms to source their inputs domestically and to incentivize consumers to buy American. That won’t work, as we should know by now after the Trump/Biden protectionist fiascos.

Because tariffs raise prices, they reduce the purchasing power not only of American consumers, but also of American producers who need inputs. What follows are a series of adjustments making everyone worse off without addressing the problem at hand. For instance, protecting American sugar with tariffs and quotas results in more imports of candy. Protecting aluminum with tariffs results in more imported garbage disposals and other products made with aluminum.

Politicians’ messages offer a simplified view of the world — one in which government interventions are all benefits and no costs. But life, as we know, is anything but simple, and Uncle Sam’s intervention can be quite destructive. Therefore, it’s incumbent upon us to demand from our politicians more than charismatic speeches and lofty promises. We must demand clear, implementable and serious policy proposals along with the acknowledgement of trade-offs.

Veronique de Rugy is the George Gibbs Chair in Political Economy and a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University.

​ Orange County Register 

Commercial real estate insights courtesy of Montana

• July 8, 2023

My wife and I are steadfast on experiencing all 50 states.

A stop at an airport doesn’t count in our scoring system. You must set foot on the ground and spend a minimum of one hour.

Ideally, touring the countryside by car vs harboring in the major enclaves is our goal.

As I reminisce about our recent sojourn in the captivating state of Montana, I am struck by the profound lessons it offered – a tapestry of wisdom woven into the fabric of its breathtaking landscapes and untamed spirit.

Beyond its natural allure, Montana holds valuable insights for commercial real estate. In this column, I invite you to embark on a journey with me, where we explore the unique characteristics of Montana and unravel the hidden treasures it reveals, informing and inspiring our approach to the dynamic world of commercial real estate.

Sustainability and outdoor integration: Montana’s beauty and steadfast commitment to preserving its environment offer a template for us such as embracing sustainability practices: green building designs, energy-efficient technologies. All enhance property value and appeal.

Also, the potential of integrating outdoor spaces and recreational amenities helps to create vibrant commercial spaces that entice both tenants and customers alike.

Navigating frontier markets: Montana’s vast and sometimes rugged frontier presents a unique learning for commercial real estate. Akin to the copper kings in the late 1800s who realized the discovery and widespread use of electricity would require an unfulfilled need for this metal – an investor can identify promising opportunities in emerging areas.

By taking into account factors like infrastructure development, transportation networks, and economic diversification joined with the challenges of limited resources, market access, and tenant attraction in sparsely populated regions – valuable opportunities for investment are uncovered.

Local engagement: Montana’s strong sense of community and close-knit social fabric hold important lessons for fostering connections in our profession as well.

Engaging with local stakeholders, understanding community needs, and integrating their perspectives into commercial property development is a must. By forging relationships with local businesses, organizations, and residents, we can create mutually beneficial partnerships and contribute to the overall success of our projects.

Tapping into tourism: Montana’s thriving tourism industry offers a captivating case study for understanding the impact of visitor economies on commercial real estate.

Orange County is no stranger to tourism as Disneyland, Knott’s, our professional sports teams, world-class restaurants, shopping and the beaches attract millions of visitors each year. Seldom do we stop to consider how tourism-driven markets influence property values, rental rates and occupancy levels.

Venturing through Montana transcends the confines of travel – opening our eyes to life-altering insights that shape the world of commercial real estate. From embracing sustainability and harmonizing with nature to navigating frontier markets, engaging with local communities, and capitalizing on the tourism economy, Montana’s lessons propel us in a new way.

Allen Buchanan is a principal and commercial real estate broker at Lee & Associates, Orange. He can be reached at 714.564.7104 or [email protected].

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​ Orange County Register 

Volleyball Nations League: Team USA squanders chances in 5-set loss to Argentina

• July 8, 2023

ANAHEIM — In the end, Team USA wasted so many opportunities in a pivotal fourth set of its Volleyball Nations League match against Argentina on Friday night that U.S. coach John Speraw couldn’t keep them all straight.

“I don’t remember all of them off the top of my head,” Speraw said.

The U.S. blew five match points in a marathon fourth set that ultimately proved soul-crushing and let a series of early leads slip away in Argentina’s 25-18, 23-25, 23-25, 43-41, 15-12 victory at the Anaheim Convention Center.

“Certainly disappointed to have some of those swings and not finish it off,” Speraw said after the 2-hour, 36-minute match. “And so we’ll have to go back and try and learn from it.”

The U.S. players will need to be fast learners. Up next is a Saturday night match against France, the reigning Olympic champion.

“I thought of that in the middle of the fourth set. This is where this tournament gets really, really hard,” Speraw said. “I’m looking at some of our players and I just don’t know if we can roll out the same team tomorrow.”

Team USA was never able to find its rhythm in the opening set but seemed to take control of the match in the second and third sets.

“They came out pretty hot,” U.S. libero Erik Shoji said. “They were just crushing side out and also transition. They played great that first set, then we kind of settled in a little bit and started to slow them down a little bit and so they made some changes and we played well.”

The shift in momentum was due in part to Speraw’s decision to replace Jeff Jendryk with David Smith at middle blocker.

“We were looking for a little more offense,” Speraw said. “Jeff is a really offensive player and he was hitting .125 when I took him out, just hasn’t scored well enough. So I was looking for Dave to come in, maybe look for a little bit more of a serve, look for a little bit more experience against a team that runs a pretty unique offense, has a pretty unique setter. I think Dave did do that. He stuffed a bunch of really nice out-of-system balls. He killed some really nice balls but unfortunately had some errors I wish he could get back.”

Smith wasn’t alone in a fourth set that got away from the hosts.

The U.S. led 21-17 in the fourth before the wheels came off. Argentina had six service errors in the set only to be outdone by Team USA’s 12 errors.

“When we’re up on a team, especially late when they’re making mistakes we can’t mirror that. We can’t give them their points back that they gave us,” U.S. opposite hitter Matt Anderson said. “Those are the opportunities that great teams take advantage of and I consider us a great team. Unfortunately, we let ourselves down with those mistakes. The good thing to take away is (if) we get rid of those mistakes, we win these sets and we win these matches so that’s on us and that’s completely controllable by us.”

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​ Orange County Register 

Max Christie shines again as Lakers beat Warriors for first summer league win

• July 8, 2023

LAS VEGAS — Max Christie’s impressive summer league play continued on Friday night at the Thomas & Mack Center, and his latest effort helped the Lakers secure their first win of the summer exhibition slate.

Christie had 22 points on 6-of-11 shooting (3 for 5 from 3-point range) to go with seven rebounds and two blocked shots in the Lakers’ 103-96 victory over the Golden State Warriors to close out the first day of play at the league-wide summer tournament.

Christie also drew the Lester Quinones assignment defensively, helping limit the Warriors guard to 15 points on 5-of-15 shooting.

The 6-foot-5 Christie, a second-year guard out of Michigan State, averaged 21 points on 54.2% shooting (62.5% from behind the arc), five rebounds and four assists in the Lakers’ two California Classic games earlier this week in Sacramento – losses to Miami and San Antonio.

Christie is looking to showcase his development as a ball-handler and on-ball creator this summer, and he is looking to become a more consistent part of the Lakers’ 2023-24 rotation.

“His habits are very unique,” Lakers assistant/summer league coach JD DuBois said. “He’s always there early, takes care of his body, he eats right [and] does the extra work. All the things that you know are needed to be good in this league, he does them. We’ve tried to put him in positions to showcase his overall skillset. It’s been good to watch him develop on both ends of the floor.”

Cole Swider added 19 points, going 5 for 8 from 3-point range. Colin Castleton (13 points, seven rebounds, six assists), D’Moi Hodge (11 points) and Sacha Killeya-Jones (10 points) also scored in double figures.

First-round draft pick Jalen Hood-Schifino had nine points, five rebounds, four steals, three assists and a block.

The Warriors were led by forward Gui Santos’ 25 points and seven rebounds.

The Lakers next face the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Thomas & Mack Center, the second of five games they will play in Las Vegas.

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​ Orange County Register