Bronny James is facing a challenging start with the Los Angeles Lakers. He has participated in three Summer League games so far – two in the California Classic and one in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, his offensive performance has been disappointing, with only 6-of-26 shooting from the field and 0-of-12 from 3-point range. Across these three games, he has only scored a total of 15 points, all of which resulted in losses for the Lakers.
When asked about his struggles, James admitted, “I just feel like I’m in a little slump right now.”
Throughout his amateur career, shooting has been a weak point for James. During his time at USC, he shot 36.6% from the floor and 26.1% on 3-pointers. Standing at under 6-foot-2, James lacks his father’s exceptional athleticism, making it harder for him to drive to the rim. Developing his jump shot will be crucial for his success in the NBA, but he has yet to showcase that in the summer league.
There is still hope for improvement, especially as the Lakers prepare to face the Celtics on Monday. However, James recognizes that his offensive growth may take time and could potentially involve playing in the G-League. He expressed his willingness to accept any assignment from the Lakers, stating, “I’m just looking forward to any basketball I play, no matter the level.”
Despite his offensive struggles, James has already demonstrated strong defensive capabilities that make him a promising NBA prospect. His physical strength and court awareness allow him to generate turnovers effectively. In the long run, he could establish himself as a defensive stopper against opposing guards.
While this defensive role is valuable, players in this position still need to contribute offensively to secure playing time. James is currently far from being a reliable offensive threat, indicating that he has a lot of work ahead of him to reach his full potential.
The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog.