The ball is now in Bronny James’ court after turning his performance around to help win the latest Summer League game for the Lakers. This might have been the rookie guard’s best performance so far after an unimpressive start in his first five games. This rough start had fans questioning why he was in the NBA.
Bronny James brought the heat in this fifth game with the rookie scoring 12 points to defeat the Atlanta Hawks. James shot 5-of-11 from the field and made 2 of 5 shots outside the three-point arc. The Summer League game finished with the Lakers beating the Hawks 87-86.
The immense pressure surrounding Bronny James’ arrival into the NBA has not gone unnoticed. The rookie guard has had basketball fans watching him closely while picking his performances apart the second the draft began. He is the son of NBA career scoring leader, four-time NBA Champion, and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, Lebron James.
How will he fare in the rest of the NBA Summer League?
Bronny’s Prior Performances
The rookie guard seemed to have found his rhythm this past game against the Atlanta Hawks than he had in the other basketball games. Previously, the masses were left unimpressed with his performances in the first four summer league games. It left fans wondering how Bronny James could live up to his father’s reputation.
The rookie guard was the 55th overall pick in the 2024 draft and was selected in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft. The 19-year-old averaged 4.3 points with a 22.6% from the field including missing all 15 of his three-point attempts.
In this past game, James’ teammates, Dalton Knecht, and Zaccharie Risacher were not active for the Hawks game, leaving James as the main attraction to watch for fans. This might have been the motivation Bronny James needed to turn his game around and rise from his previous failed attempts at scoring.
Under Scrutiny
After landing a $7.9 million contract with the Lakers, an extremely high amount for a second-round pick, fans began dissecting James’ performance as all eyes were on him. Instead of going with the punches, Bronny James kicked off his Lakers career by underperforming in the basketball games. “No one can withstand the scrutiny he is under,” ESPN’s Dave McMenamin said.
Despite the start of the younger James’ Lakers career being unimpressive so far, sports fans have forgotten that James’ health may play a huge role in why he has not been performing to his capacity until now. Last year, Bronny James suffered a cardiac arrest which resulted in less playing time and more of a focus on recovering from his ailments.
Bronny Finds His Footing
In this last game against the Hawks, James showed everyone that he fits right in with the rest of the NBA players. It seems the younger James needed to find his footing and feel comfortable to make an impact in a game where fans will always be comparing him to his father, LeBron James.
“It’s a flex to have your son alongside you in the NBA it reflects greatness and longevity! Bronny has all the tools around him to be successful I look forward to watching his growth,” Boston Celtics Jaylen Brown posted on X.
Bronny James may be the son of LeBron James, but he is making his way in the NBA on his terms. Only time will tell if the younger James can improve his skills and performances in future games and his overall career. It’s all a matter of growth for Bronny, and time is the tool he needs right now to make a name for himself in the NBA.
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