NBA draft expert Kevin O’Connor took to X to explain Bronny James‘ strengths and weaknesses as a player now that he got drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers. He noted that Bronny brings a lot of positives and negatives to the table, and pointed out what James will have to work on as his career goes on.
Starting out, O’Connor compared Bronny James to Davion Mitchell and Norris Cole. For his positives, O’Connor noted that Bronny is a good athlete, who benefits from his frame, despite his smaller stature. His length and reach are going to be key tools for him going forward.
He added that Bronny also has a high basketball IQ, despite not being a leading, ball-handling guard. Perhaps he can develop his ability to lead an offense over the next few years.
Furthermore, he pointed to his shooting form as a positive, noting that despite his three-point shooting numbers being poor, his form can allow him to improve as a shooter, similar to Lonzo Ball did.
O’Connor praised Bronny’s good nature as a teammate, undoubtedly one of his best traits, and something he will have learned from his father.
Lastly, O’Connor praised Bronny’s defensive work rate. Despite James’ size, he is a tireless defender who shows energy and aggression. His athleticism is a big plus to his defense, as he is able to perform some chase-down blocks, much like LeBron James has famously in
However, Bronny has a lot of weaknesses in his game, primarily his shooting. James is a streaky shooter, making just 19.6% of his catch-and-shoot threes at USC, and 33.8% of his catch-and-shoot threes at Sierra Canyon. His shooting definitely needs to improve going forward.
O’Connor worries that he may not have the scoring touch, as his floater is also another weak point in his game. James made just 67.2% of his free throws, 28.1% of floaters, 30.2% of 2-point jumpers, and 26.7% of dribble-jumper threes, which suggests that he isn’t a readymade scorer coming into the NBA.
What makes this lack of scoring touch even more concerning is his poor handling, which will make it difficult for Bronny to create his own shot or even get into the interior. James’ lack of dunk attempts at USC doesn’t help concerns about his handle and gather-step.
O’Connor also pointed out the well-known health concerns that James has, focusing on his cardiac arrest last year when he was at USC. While Bronny was cleared to play basketball, it could be a while before he ramps up to the level he needs to be for the NBA.
Clearly, Bronny is an exciting prospect, but one that needs to develop in the next few years. One can imagine that the Lakers already have a plan to help James improve in the next few years, perhaps even with a stint in the G-League, where he won’t be under such a bright spotlight.
There is no indication yet as to what the plan for James is next season. The Lakers are understandably, keeping it close to the vest. Perhaps a good preseason with new head coach JJ Redick will earn Bronny some minutes with the Lakers.
The Lakers Are Excited To Work With Bronny James Going Forward
Lakers GM Rob Pelinka spoke after they drafted Bronny James last night. He noted that the Lakers will make history with Bronny. He praised James’ character and noted how promising he is as a prospect. Pelinka shared his and the Lakers’ excitement in working with him going forward.
“Next season, NBA history could be made and NBA history should be made in a Lakers uniform. That’s just sort of globally how we feel about the draft moment. And more important than that is to talk about Bronny James as a basketball player because this is his day and he was the one selected with the 55th pick.”
“Bronny is first and foremost a person of high character and second he is a young man that works incredibly hard. Those are the qualities we look for in drafting players. He did a great draft workout with us where he displayed those qualities to me in an hour lunch we shared in the building.”
“Once we got to know each other it became clear he’s a man of character and in terms of his work ethic, I think we’ve all seen that worked out too. He’s not a person who is taking shortcuts or is entitled to basketball opportunities. He’s worked for everything he’s gotten, including being selected today. So, it’s an honor for us to add him to our program.”
James showed signs of promise during his one year at USC. Bronny played 25 games for USC and started 6 games for them. During the season, he averaged 19.4 minutes a game, 4.8 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.1 assists. Much of his playing time and opportunities, and perhaps even his performances, were impacted by his cardiac arrest last year.
Bronny James could be a prospect for the future, as he is currently not at the level that he needs to be to succeed in the NBA. Of course, he could surprise everyone and showcase a level of his game that he didn’t get the chance to at USC. But it is very likely that he will spend much of his time playing limited minutes for the Lakers, and keep partaking in the G-League.
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