The NBA Summer League has started for Bronny James and the Los Angeles Lakers, and it began with three games in the California Classic. The point of the NBA Summer League is to display the young talent teams just got in the recent draft. It also allows undrafted and older players a chance to show their skills to the league. The Lakers played three and lost three. Rookie Bronny James, who the Los Angeles Lakers drafted in the 2nd round and signed a 4-year 7.9 million dollar contract, only played in two of those three games in the Classic.
In those two games he has played 51 minutes. In the 51 minutes he has only scored seven points. Yes, I said it seven points. The guard is 3 for 12 from the field and 0 for four from the three-point line. I know I’m not the only Lakers fan who was waiting to see how Bronny James was going to perform. So, what has James Jr. displayed so far? What has he shown to be hopeful towards the season?
Will Bronny Make The Lakers Roster
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The Lakers predict that Bronny James has the potential to have strong defensive pressure and be a threat from the three-point line. But so far, he has scored 0 for 4 from the arch. It doesn’t look like it’s panning out how the franchise wants. However, it’s only two games, right? Now, let’s look at his defense. In the game against the Sacramento Kings, James had one steal, and in the game against the Miami Heat, he had two steals and three blocks. In both games his perimeter defense was good.
Dane Johnson, coach of the South Bay Lakers in the G League, wants the rookie shooting guard to get as many reps in as possible. Coach Johnson foresees James Jr. playing the whole Summer League, learning how to get comfortable in NBA games. The Summer League is a close enough setting for him to get all the reps and learning lessons needed to be ready for the NBA season. So are the numbers that will be posted by Bronny James going to matter around start of the NBA season?
LeBron James Makes a Comment on Bronny’s Classic
NBA veteran superstar all-time scorer of the NBA LeBron James said to ESPN:
What he does in the California Classic and summer league, it doesn’t matter if he plays well and it doesn’t matter if he doesn’t play well. I just want him to continue to grow [from] practices, film sessions, his individual workouts. You can’t take anything stat-wise from the California Classic and summer league and bring it to once the season starts. So, the only thing that matters is him getting better and stacking days.
After his debut on Saturday against the Sacramento Kings, Bronny James told ESPN that:
I was trying to get downhill as much as I could to open up the 2-ball, and the midrange, and the 3-ball. Couldn’t get the 3-ball to fall, but with all the reps, it’s going to come more smooth.
Only time will tell how Bronny James will progress between now and the NBA regular season. But if his shot doesn’t start falling from the field or three-point line it would be hard to believe that he would make the Lakers roster. The next game for the Lakers will be in Las Vegas for the official start of the NBA 2k25 Summer League against the Houston Rockets. James Jr. is expected to start in this upcoming game. Will we see a spark in his three-point shooting or more of the learning process? I’ll be watching very closely.
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