This 12 months’s NBA Summer season League felt like Bronny James “on tour,” in accordance with one in every of his Lakers teammates.
An nameless member of the Lakers summer season league crew defined to The Solar that the heightened consideration round LeBron James’ eldest son — the Lakers’ fifty fifth choose within the second spherical of this 12 months’s NBA draft — created a “tense environment,” and gamers grew pissed off together with his alleged particular therapy.
“I imply, he was handled as somebody aside, not like all of us, and that’s very annoying as we didn’t really feel any chemistry on this group of gamers,” the participant stated, including that “virtually every thing centered round” James.
“I ended up being very pissed off as a result of I used to be by no means put in one of the best scenario, and even put in some performs or recreation plans as a result of they wished Bronny to point out his abilities and shine,” he stated. “Should you discuss to some other participant that was a part of the roster of the California Basic and the Summer season League, most of them would inform you a similar factor.
“The tensions had been seen, and just about we had been all interested by the top of the Summer season League to get out of right here and give attention to our subsequent step in our careers.”
Nonetheless, the participant added that he even felt “a bit unhealthy” for James, “as he isn’t prepared for all this, and he isn’t prepared for the NBA in my view.”
The 19-year-old James missed the primary eight video games of his freshman 12 months at USC after he suffered cardiac arrest throughout a apply final July.
In his lone season at USC, he averaged 4.8 factors (on 36.6 p.c taking pictures), 2.8 rebounds and a pair of.1 assists in 25 appearances.
Bronny impressed on the NBA mix in Could, when he recorded a 40 1/2-inch max vertical soar and shot 19-of-25 throughout the 3-point taking pictures drill.
One other supply advised The Solar the “pressure” among the many crew was “irritating” to cope with.
Summer season League rosters encompass youthful gamers, together with current high draft picks.
“That form of pressure didn’t assist the group of gamers to construct chemistry,” the supply stated, including they’ve “nothing in opposition to” the youthful James.
“And you might really feel that there was no unity [between] this group of men as Bronny was the principle man and the others didn’t really feel that it was proper, that he deserved that,” the supply stated.
“This isn’t a great search for us … And with coping with Bronny’s consideration and therapy, loads of the opposite younger guys which might be attempting to make the roster for subsequent season couldn’t present their greatest facet and present their A recreation.”
Followers from throughout traveled to the Thomas & Mack Middle in Las Vegas to see James make his NBA Summer season League debut as a Laker.
James averaged 8.8 factors, 3.5 rebounds and one help spanning 4 video games.
The 6-foot-2 guard confirmed huge enchancment in his closing two video games, scoring 12 factors in a win in opposition to the Hawks — adopted by a 13-point efficiency in a victory over the Cavaliers final week.
James seemed extra assured dealing with the ball on each ends of the ground, and he was driving to the basket at a quicker tempo.
One of many broadcasters even famous “you see a distinct Bronny James” throughout L.A.’s eventual 93-89 win in opposition to Cleveland.
He and his father might change into the primary father-son teammates in NBA historical past.
