Lakers rookie Bronny James just finished his first game of the 2024 Summer League and he had a telling chat with reporters after the buzzer. As he spoke on the game and his approach to the tournament, Bronny explained his intentions on the court and what he had learned with this valuable experience.
“Just being aggressive, believing in myself. Knowing that I can make plays for myself and my teammates. On the defensive end, just staying solid and playing my game on the defensive end, especially because I believe I know how to play on the defensive end. Just staying to my roots and believing in myself out there,” said Bronny. “Every first game that I step out there on the next level will be butterflies in my stomach but as soon as the ball tips and we go a couple of times down, it all goes away. The [nerves] are always gonna be there, but I’ll get through it.”
Bronny James talks to the media after his NBA summer league debut at the California Classic pic.twitter.com/qOnZ19jnE5
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) July 6, 2024
Bronny, drafted 55th overall in the 2024 draft, has been the biggest story in Los Angeles for months now. Since before the Lakers paired him with LeBron, Bronny’s rise to the league was heavily monitored and his stint at USC (4.8 points per game) was analyzed top to bottom.
Bronny had a modest debut on Saturday, finishing with 4 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists in almost 22 minutes. He was a pest defensively all game long and had some solid stretches on the court. Still, he struggled to shoot the ball and finished at 22% from the field, including 0-3 from beyond the arc.
The reaction online was relatively mixed for James, especially given that many fans feel he should have stayed in college for at least an extra year. But to his credit, Bronny (19) looked like he belonged out there on the court and besides missing shots, he looked to be in complete control all night long.
At the very least, his showing was enough to make his dad proud, who was looking on with glee during Team USA practice in Las Vegas.
Fortunately, Bronny Jr. will get a chance to show off his skills again on Sunday, in the second game of the annual California Classic. In a match against the Warriors, Bronny will be put to the test and it will be interesting to see how he responds now that he’s gotten a taste of Summer League action.
Whether he goes off or flops this summer, patience will be key with Bronny. As a 19-year-old who was drafted in the second round, James Jr. has a long leash to adapt and develop his game to the NBA. So far, he seems somewhat limited offensively but his work ethic and advanced understanding of the game will give him a notable advantage in his development as a player.
For the Lakers, they saw plenty of things to be excited about regarding both of their rookies this year but without any veteran additions to the roster, it’s hard to see how to compete with the Western elites. By all accounts the 2024-25 campaign could be one of development for the Lakers as they transition to building for the future. Bronny, for better or worse, will be a part of the equation and this is likely just the start of his NBA run.
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