The Los Angeles Lakers are hoping that their decision to draft Bronny James with the 55th overall pick ends up paying off, with Lakers head coach JJ Redick identifying the NBA skill that Bronny can develop that will enhance his value to the Lakers or any winning team in the NBA. Bronny revealed Redick wants him to be ‘a pest on defense‘ after the Lakers 114-118 preseason loss to the Phoenix Suns,
“He’s really encouraging, especially for the younger guys like myself. He’s just trying to push us into something that down the road can contribute to a winning team. JJ has really emphasized the defensive end and being a pest on defense.”
“JJ has told me to be as disruptive as possible, forcing me to disrupt the ball and pick up 94 feet, disrupt ball screens, and stuff like that. So yeah, I’m just trying to focus on what I could do best in my role and it’s been pretty good.”
The one skill that even Bronny’s biggest detractors haven’t been able to criticize is his defensive ability, as Bronny has shown he can be an active and versatile defender despite his size.
He’ll have a physical ceiling that won’t allow him to match his father’s greatness, but Bronny can easily be in a lane of his own as one of the few guard-stoppers in the NBA.
Bronny James Has Shown Flashes Of Good Defense So Far
Bronny James was once compared to the likes of Marcus Smart and De’Anthony Melton for his defensive ability before he even committed to going to college. Even with the USC Tigers, Bronny looked solid defensively but struggled to get extended chances due to his extremely inconsistent shot.
Bronny’s shooting ability has been as bad as many could have imagined, with the Lakers guard averaging 11.9 minutes, 0.7 points, 1.0 rebounds, 0.3 assists, 1,0 blocks, and 1.7 turnovers per game on 1-11 from the field and 0-4 from three over three games so far. He has solid defensive highlights, including chase-down blocks, but he can’t seem to find an offensive rhythm even after trying.
Picks at the latter end of the second round rarely end up with flourishing NBA careers, so Bronny is already fighting historic forces in trying to find a long-term home in the league. He’s likely assured to be a Laker for the next four seasons given his guaranteed contract, so he has that time to show off his development.
Bronny was advertised as a productive shooter but that skill hasn’t translated to live games, either in college or at the NBA level with Summer League and preseason. Maybe extended minutes in the G League where he learns by trial and fire will suit Bronny the best because it’s hard to justify giving him a spot in an NBA rotation right now.
LeBron James will likely have retired by the end of Bronny’s four-year contract with the Lakers, so the young guard has to make his mark in the NBA. While he will get much fanfare when he debuts on opening night to make history alongside LeBron, he shouldn’t expect many NBA minutes this season on a Lakers squad hoping to contend.
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