On Saturday, Bronny James watched from the sidelines after the Los Angeles Lakers decided they had seen enough from the NBA’s most talked-about rookie during the Summer League.
James finished on an upward trajectory after a rocky start, scoring 25 points on 10-of-21 shooting over his final two games. This included making 3 of 8 baskets from beyond the arc, a significant improvement after going 0 for 15 in his first four games.
“He had two pretty good games last two,” noted Lakers Summer League coach Dane Johnson. “I think it’s just going to help him going into the summer so we can work on different things with him. Just that confidence and knowing he can play at this level. It’s still going to take a lot of time and a lot of reps.”
Some fans expressed their disappointment when the Lakers kept James on the bench, briefly chanting “We want Bronny” during the first quarter of Saturday’s 107-81 victory over the Chicago Bulls.
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During his Summer League appearances in San Francisco and Las Vegas, Bronny, the son of NBA all-time scoring leader LeBron James, had a challenging start, shooting 7 for 31 overall. This performance fueled speculation that the Lakers had wasted their 55th pick as a favor to their franchise star.
However, James silenced some critics with his performances against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday and the Cleveland Cavaliers the following night.
“In general, he doesn’t let any of that stuff get to him,” Johnson said. “He just wants to play basketball and be on a team. He’s a good kid. He’s listening. He’s trying to learn.”
Despite the progress, Bronny still has much to learn. At 6-foot-2, he has the physique of a point guard but hasn’t been bringing the ball up the court due to concerns about his ballhandling. Instead, he’s been playing as a shooting guard, which could pose challenges against taller opponents at that position.
“I think right now he’s more of a (shooting guard), but I think he could be a combo-ish,” Johnson said. “He picks up stuff really well. We throw stuff at him—plays, coverages, defensively. He kind of picks it up really quick, so I think he could potentially be (a point guard). Maybe we’ll work on that in the summer, but I think right now being that secondary playmaker is kind of where he’s at right now.”
James also needs to demonstrate consistent perimeter shooting. While his last two games were promising, they alone won’t eliminate all concerns. The Lakers are likely to bring him along slowly, allowing him to develop in the G League. However, as a Summer League fan favorite, he will undoubtedly get opportunities with the main team, generating significant buzz when he takes the court.
The possibility of a father-and-son duo playing together in the NBA is rare in any major North American sport. The only comparable instances are Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. sharing the MLB field with the Seattle Mariners in 1990 and 1991, and hockey legend Gordie Howe playing with sons Marty and Mark in the WHA and NHL.
The James family is poised to join this exclusive list, a prospect they cherish deeply, especially after Bronny’s health scare last summer. He suffered cardiac arrest during a workout at the University of Southern California, leading to surgery for a congenital heart defect and causing him to miss the start of the Trojans’ season.
In his one college season, Bronny averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists, opting to declare for the NBA draft rather than return to USC. His journey is a testament to resilience and potential, and the Lakers are invested in his development as he continues to grow in confidence and skill.
