LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JULY 18: Bronny James Jr. #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers prepares to inbound the ball in opposition to the Cleveland Cavaliers firstly of the second half of a 2024 NBA Summer time League sport on the Thomas & Mack Middle on July 18, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Lakers defeated the Cavaliers 93-89. Candice Ward/Getty Pictures/AFP
LAS VEGAS — Bronny James was a spectator on Saturday after the Los Angeles Lakers decided that they’ve seen all they want out of the NBA’s most talked-about rookie.
He completed the NBA Summer time League on an upward trajectory after a dismal begin, scoring 25 factors on 10-of-21 taking pictures over his ultimate two video games. That included making 3 of 8 baskets from 3-point vary after going 0 for 15 in his first 4 video games.
“He had two fairly good video games final two,” Lakers Summer time League coach Dane Johnson stated. “I feel it’s simply going to assist him going into the summer season so we are able to work on various things with him. Simply that confidence and figuring out he can play at this degree. It’s nonetheless going to take numerous time and numerous reps.”
READ: Lakers’ Bronny James continues promising play in NBA Summer time League
Some followers have been disenchanted that the Lakers saved James on the bench, briefly breaking out a chant of “We wish Bronny” within the first quarter of Saturday’s 107-81 victory over the Chicago Bulls.
In Summer time League stints in San Francisco after which Las Vegas, the son of NBA career-scoring chief LeBron James opened taking pictures 7 for 31 general. That fueled speak — or bolstered the notion — the Lakers had wasted their fifty fifth choose as a favor to the face of the franchise.
The youthful James quieted at the least a few of that speak together with his performances Wednesday in opposition to the Atlanta Hawks and the next evening in opposition to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“Generally, he doesn’t let any of that stuff get to him,” Johnson stated. “He simply desires to play basketball and be on a group. He’s a very good child. He’s listening. He’s making an attempt to study.”
There’s nonetheless lots to study.
At 6-foot-2, James has the construct of some extent guard, however he doesn’t carry the ball up the court docket due to issues about his ballhandling. He as an alternative has performed taking pictures guard, which may very well be an issue when going in opposition to taller gamers at that place.
READ: Bronny James struggles, Lakers lose to Celtics at NBA Summer time League
“I feel proper now he’s extra of a (taking pictures guard), however I feel he may very well be a combo-ish,” Johnson stated. “He picks up stuff very well. We throw stuff at him — performs, coverages, defensively. He form of picks it up actually fast, so I feel he might probably be (some extent guard). Perhaps we’ll work on that in the summertime, however I feel proper now being that secondary playmaker is form of the place he’s at proper now.”
James additionally has to point out he could be a constant perimeter shooter, and two promising video games to finish the summer season received’t quell all the concerns.
The Lakers probably will attempt to carry him alongside slowly, giving James an opportunity to work out a number of the kinks within the G League. However the Summer time League fan favourite additionally will get his possibilities with the massive membership, and one of many NBA’s most historic franchises is aware of the thrill James will generate when he will get referred to as up.
No father-and-son duo has ever taken the court docket on the similar time for an NBA sport, and it’s uncommon for any main North American sport.
Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. shared the identical Main League Baseball discipline in 1990 and 1991 with the Seattle Mariners. Within the Seventies and ’80s, hockey legend Gordie Howe performed with sons Marty and Mark with the WHA’s Houston Aeros and the NHL’s Hartford Whalers.
The actual fact the James household will be part of that listing is one thing it received’t take without any consideration after Bronny’s well being scare final summer season. He went into cardiac arrest throughout a exercise on the College of Southern California. James underwent surgical procedure to repair what was identified as a congenital coronary heart defect, inflicting him to overlook the start of the Trojans’ season.
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He averaged 4.8 factors, 2.8 rebounds and a couple of.1 assists in his one faculty season, opting to declare for the NBA draft reasonably than return to USC.