Bronny James made his Los Angeles Lakers summer time league debut Saturday, scoring 4 factors on 2-for-9 capturing in a 108-94 loss to the Sacramento Kings within the opening recreation of the California Traditional.
The No. 55 decide by the Lakers in final month’s draft, James scored his first factors on a drive halfway by means of the second quarter and added a number of different spotlight performs in his 21 minutes on the court docket, together with a steal that facilitated a fast-break bucket and 17-foot jumper after a step again. James added two assists and two rebounds.
What stood out most from James’ debut and what can we count on throughout his subsequent summer time league look? Our NBA insiders are breaking down his efficiency and what it means transferring ahead this offseason.
Bronny James’ summer time league debut was _____.
Kendra Andrews: Quiet, and that is not a nasty factor. There’s solely a lot to remove from the primary California Traditional recreation. James and fellow rookie Dalton Knecht each struggled from the sphere — Knecht scored 12 factors on 3-for-12 capturing — in order that’s one thing to observe as summer time league continues. It wasn’t shocking that James did not have a stellar debut, and will probably be extra essential to see small enhancements as his summer time league continues.
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Bronny’s steal units up a Lakers bucket
Bronny James steals the rock, which finds the arms of Kyle Mangas for a Lakers bucket.
Baxter Holmes: Uneventful, and that is greater than tremendous. He’ll must acclimate to enjoying with and in opposition to fringe NBA gamers, and that is what summer time league is for. His numbers will not imply a lot, and that is common, both. In 2012, Memphis Grizzlies guard Josh Selby, a second-round decide in 2011, was named co-MVP of summer time league after averaging 24.2 factors in 5 video games. He performed simply 38 video games in his NBA profession. In 2009, Warriors ahead Anthony Randolph, the thirteenth general decide in 2008, averaged 26.8 factors and eight.5 rebounds per recreation. In six NBA seasons, he averaged 7.1 factors earlier than enjoying in Russia and Spain. The lesson, as NBA executives have lengthy recited, is to not overreact to any summer time league performances, be they good, unhealthy or wherever within the center. Future stars have floundered, future busts have thrived.
Dave McMenamin: To be anticipated. His manufacturing wasn’t too far off what he did as a freshman at USC. Essentially the most important a part of his day, to me, was the Lakers’ dedication to beginning him and giving him an excellent quantity of enjoying time whilst he struggled along with his shot. Rising pains will be powerful to observe play out with hundreds of followers within the stands, however it’s a essential a part of the method if Bronny goes to change into the participant that he and the Lakers hope. He’s removed from a completed product, however the recreation proved that L.A. is certainly invested in his growth.
What’s one new factor we realized about Bronny’s recreation?
McMenamin: He can flip protection into offense. His finest play of the day was springing right into a passing lane to nab a steal and instantly pushing it down the opposite finish to get the Lakers a fastbreak rating with the hockey help to ahead Blake Hinson, who dumped it off to protect Kyle Mangas on the hoop. James practically acquired a steal within the Kings’ backcourt later within the recreation utilizing the identical fast burst to intercept a move however stepped on the sideline out of bounds earlier than securing the possession. The Lakers hope Bronny’s recreation can translate to pestering perimeter protection, and any offense generated from that might be a bonus.
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Holmes: On protection, I seen a number of situations of opposing gamers making an attempt to interrupt down Bronny off the dribble, then step again for a jumper or attempt to drive to the rim. Due to who he’s — and who his father is — there’ll little question be situations of gamers making an attempt to attain on him if solely to show some form of level. He’ll face this a number of extra occasions in summer time league and almost definitely all through his profession.
Andrews: That he most likely will not be a ball handler this season, particularly when bringing the ball up the court docket. Maybe it is a belief factor, or perhaps simply not the position they see him enjoying, however James not often dealt with the rock in transition, off an inbounds move, or simply to arrange a play. At 6-foot-2, he matches extra of a degree guard measurement, nevertheless it seems the Lakers do not see him as important facilitator simply but.
What’s one factor we should always look ahead to in Bronny’s subsequent summer time league recreation?
Holmes: I might watch his general decisiveness. He is nonetheless studying his teammates, as they’re him, and there have been moments when you may see him making an attempt to determine precisely when to defer or to be aggressive. It is arduous to think about the load of expectations upon him and the way that compounds the whole lot. As soon as he performs a number of video games, I count on him to look extra comfy. However one factor he’ll very a lot must steadiness — and this performed out on Saturday — is crowd reactions and requires him to shoot each time he touches the ball, as followers screamed for him to fireside away or drive to the basket, whether or not or not he was open. James should modify to the general noise of expectations round him, and the gang’s response Saturday was an early signal of that.
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Bronny places filthy transfer on his defender for a Lakers bucket
Bronny James shakes his defender and drains a basket to drag the Lakers nearer.
Andrews: I might take note of any offensive enhancements he makes, particularly his capturing, but additionally what sort of protection he can put collectively. Having the ability to do the little issues is what’s going to assist James earn enjoying time subsequent season, and his point-of-attack protection has been highlighted. In his first recreation, he had a tough time guarding Adonis Arms, who completed with 32 factors and even shook James to his ft on the primary play of the sport.
McMenamin: This was Bronny’s first basketball recreation since mid March — there was an comprehensible layer of rust to shake off. Now that the first-game jitters are out of the way in which, search for Bronny to have the ability to showcase just a little bit extra game-by-game as this new stage begins to really feel much less overseas. It is apparent by the way in which Bronny approaches the game, going again to his highschool days, that he will not the entire sudden be trying to drop 30 in considered one of these video games. Possibly subsequent recreation he does not get caught in between a pull-up and a floater, like he did on one try on Saturday; or perhaps he takes one other arduous dribble after getting his defender on his hip — because the Lakers summer time league coach, Dane Johnson, talked about postgame — and he finally ends up with one other simple take a look at the rim. In different phrases: child steps.
