Bronny James in a focal cast the first time in Chongqing, China, 2023. Looking like a lottery pick while scoring a season-high 17 points on an impressive 7-for-10 shooting, James easily established himself as the best player on the floor. The young guard contributed five assists, three rebounds, and a block during his 30 minutes of playtime, marking his most significant showing in a Lakers uniform to date.
Bronny James made waves with his strong performance against the Bucks. No doubt, this game provided him a priceless opportunity to impress the Lakers’ coaching staff. James has gained a reputation for coming alive when the games aren’t close, a.k.a. garbage time. He took full advantage of that opportunity, using the fine-tuned skills that he’s perfected while on the bench. This performance comes as a testament to his dedication and hard work, focusing on what he can control amidst external pressures.
"Going in the gym tomorrow, ready to work as hard as I did yesterday," said Bronny James, emphasizing his commitment to continuous improvement.
James has struggled all season long, only averaging 1.6 ppg on the year. James’ shooting percentage is a measly 26.3% in 21 games with just 4.7 minutes per game. Take a look at his impact when he was with South Bay, L.A.’s G-League affiliate. He averaged 20.6 points on 43.1% shooting over nine games. His almost 36% from deep on 90+ attempts is a great sign of things to come.
During this season’s matchup with Milwaukee, James showed the full extent of his physicality and aggressive approach to defend opponents at the rim. In a notable drive into the paint, he went past Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, highlighting his capacity to navigate tough defenses despite not receiving a foul call.
"He's a much bigger guy than me," James remarked regarding Antetokounmpo. "So I just got to find a way to get around him somehow. May have got fouled. That's up for argument, but it is what it is."
Supported by his family, with his father LeBron James sitting on the Lakers bench during the game, Bronny continues to show resilience and potential. His work ethic, disposition and desire are evident as he makes the commitment to get better every day.
"Same approach for every day with my job," he stated, underscoring his disciplined mindset.
Though Lakers coach JJ Redick knows that Bronny has a very high ceiling, as well as physical and athletic advantages. At this rate of improvement, Bronny has the makings of an above-average NBA shooter. The expectations were always going to be high as the son of one of basketball’s all time greats, LeBron James. Despite that attention and opportunity, Bronny stays humble and focused on his development.
Leave a Reply