Bronny James had an average second outing in the 2024 NBA Summer League, playing against the Miami Heat and putting on a showing where his supporters were encouraged by his versatility while his haters mocked his low production. The thing Bronny was mocked for the most was falling to the ground after Heat guard Alondes Williams hit him with an ankle breaker.
BRONNY JUST GOT HIS ANKLES TOOK😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/1NHXkVRJ9w
— Hoops (@HoopMixOnly) July 11, 2024
Bronny didn’t put up big numbers but showed the extent of his basketball versatility with three points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals, and three blocks. Bronny wasn’t focused on offense, taking only three shots over the 29 minutes he was on the court.
His defense made an impact, as he impressed onlookers with the sheer intensity of his on-ball defensive abilities. He’s shown the ability to navigate screens without losing his man, a skill that would make him very impactful in an NBA rotation.
Bronny is a special on ball defender
This is non debatable
— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) July 11, 2024
Bronny is building chemistry with Lakers’ first-round pick Dalton Knecht, who went off for 20 points on 7-8 shooting.
Bronny James finishes the reverse off the dish from Dalton Knecht 🔥
Lakers '24 draft class connection 🤝
LAL-MIA | California Classic on ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/gnAk3y1ghB
— NBA (@NBA) July 10, 2024
Unfortunately, there were more lowlights Bronny had to face as the POA defender against Alondes Williams, as the Heat guard had a sensational play over Bronny despite his defense.
ALONDIS WILLIAMS FRIES BRONNY JAMES OH MYYY pic.twitter.com/8D2PB9qQ1O
— Heat Clips 🎬 (@MiamiClip) July 11, 2024
This was a better outing than his Summer League debut and showcased his skills as a defender. He needs to find some solution for his offensive output, otherwise it will take him a while to earn his place in the Lakers rotation, if at all.
Bronny James Doesn’t Let The Noise Affect Him
LeBron James gave an impassioned speech about Bronny during Team USA media availability, emphasizing the degree to which his son doesn’t care about the haters trying to tear his NBA career down before he’s even gotten started.
“I don’t know if people really understand Bronny. He doesn’t care. I actually care a little bit. When I came in [as a rookie], I wanted people to like me, and some of the things that people were saying about me kind of bothered me early on in my career. … He doesn’t give a f**k.”
LeBron even praised Bronny for not being like him, as LeBron wouldn’t be able to hold his tongue in the face of so much hate.
“He does not care about nobody. He doesn’t even listen to that stuff. He’s like the coolest. He’s like the complete opposite of his dad. His dad will say something [to address the critics]. Bro does not care. … Everything that’s being said about him, he really does not care.”
People will debate if Bronny earned his place in the NBA for years to come, especially if he’s a low-production role-player in the NBA. There’s a lot of value in those players when they provide the defensive intangibles like Bronny does, but they’re destined to be role-players who aren’t necessarily given a lot of attention.
Bronny as a role-player will be under a superstar’s microscope, meaning he’s going to fight a losing battle in the eyes of the media for most of his career. He needs to block out the noise as that’s the only way he can have a successful career.
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