Bronny James’ first appearances in a purple and gold jersey have been every thing however spectacular, particularly throughout his Summer season League debut in Las Vegas this previous weekend. The Lakers misplaced towards the Rockets 99-80 and the 19-year-old was very imprecise when capturing, regardless of producing a number of attention-grabbing performs through the match.
“I simply really feel like I’m in just a little hunch proper now,” he admitted after scoring 8 factors that got here on 3-for-14 capturing towards Houston. The No. 55 choose of the previous NBA Draft mentioned that he’ll welcome any task given to him in his first marketing campaign as a basketball skilled.
Nonetheless, the younger guard is open so long as he’s given the chance to play and enhance his sport, even whether it is taking part in for the G League squad in South Bay. “I’m simply trying ahead to any basketball I play, it doesn’t matter what degree I’m taking part in at,” he insisted.
“Do not take an excessive amount of inventory, it is Summer season League.”@PaulPierce34 on Bronny James’ early struggles pic.twitter.com/JnlEHz8DU1
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) July 15, 2024
After this weekend’s conflict in Nevada, it’s exhausting to not enter comparisons, particularly as Bronny confronted the Rockets’ Cam Whitmore. The No. 20 choose of final 12 months’s draft ended the competition with 20 factors, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. As a rookie, he performed 13 matches for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers within the G League, and averaged 26.8 factors, 6.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and a couple of.1 steals per sport.
James Jr., however, suffered three turnovers that night time and struggled on offense basically. After three Summer season League shows, together with each California Traditional clashes, the 19-year-old is dropping 23.1% of his photographs total, and has missed each single try from past the arc.
When requested about his pupil’s woes, the Lakers’ summer time league coach Dane Johnson is satisfied that the participant is simply getting settled into the large leagues and is displaying promise for the long run.
“Shoot, he’s going to have an extended profession,” mentioned Johnson, who primarily coaches the South Bay Lakers within the G League. “That is just the start. We simply maintain instilling [confidence], maintain that of their heads. So we’ve received an extended strategy to go. I don’t find out about that but, so I can’t actually touch upon that,” Johnson mentioned. “However I believe all these guys are going to be within the G League sooner or later — the draftees.”
Bronny’s agent has knowledgeable groups across the league that his consumer isn’t serious about becoming a member of another franchise on a two-way contract
Whereas Dalton Knecht is actually demonstrating why the has been a lot hype round him, particularly because the Draft’s No. 17 choose led the Los Angeles group with 25 factors on 9-for-18 capturing (5-for-11 from 3), 6 rebounds and 4 assists towards Houston, James Jr. nonetheless has lots to show.
His agent Wealthy Paul even advised ESPN that he knowledgeable different NBA franchises that Bronny isn’t trying to be part of another squad on a two-way deal. “I received the phrase out early to groups that when you plan on bringing Bronny in, right here’s what you could know: For those who received’t give him an actual deal, there’s nothing to speak about,” he expressed. “It’s exhausting to get actual growth on a two-way deal.”
Whereas his offensive shows have been removed from spectacular, his protection is beginning to search for. The rising star recorded two steals (including to his 5 in whole through the Summer season League), and guarded Rockets rookie Reed Shepard all through the competition.
“I’ve recognized Reed since fifth grade,” James Jr. mentioned in regards to the No. 3 choose of the Draft. “I do know he’s a shooter, so I used to be simply making an attempt to get in his physique and stop these 3-balls from going up. I used to be making an attempt to select him up full courtroom and displaying my effort to the GM and coaches.”
