Bronny James hasn’t exactly shined in the NBA Summer League thus far. The Los Angeles Lakers rookie guard scored only 8 points on 3-for-14 shooting Friday night in a matchup against the Houston Rockets.
So far during the summer league he is shooting 6-26 from the field and 0-for-12 from 3-point range, while averaging 5 points per game.
After struggling on Friday, James was asked if he would be willing to spend time in the NBA G League this coming season. The former USC star and son of LeBron James said that he is open to it.
“I’m just looking forward to any basketball. It doesn’t matter what level I’m playing at,” Bronny James said.
Even though James has experienced some struggles early on, there’s still plenty of time for him to get better. He insists that he is getting more comfortable and more confident, but his shot just isn’t falling at the moment.
“I just feel like I’m in a little slump right now,” he said. “I’m getting more comfortable with the ball in my hands. I’m also getting comfortable guarding bigger guys. Every game is just getting more easy.”
Bronny James is committed to improving throughout the summer league and into his rookie season, even if it means playing in the NBA G League some this season instead of alongside LeBron James in the NBA.
“Just going to film and looking at the things I always do. I feel like that’s things I should focus on. … Just always focusing on playing as hard as I can on the defensive end and whatever open looks on the offensive end I get, take it,” Bronny James said. “Just getting better every time I step on the court, especially playing older guys and stuff like that. Finding out what my role is and excelling in that.”
JJ Redick sets expectation for Bronny James on defense
All eyes have been on Bronny James through his first two summer league games with the Los Angeles Lakers. During the Lakers’ matchup against the Houston Rockets at the Las Vegas Summer League on Friday, Lakers head coach JJ Redick evaluated James’ performances, thus far.
“I thought the last game of the [California] Classic, defensively, he was terrific,” Redick said. “He had eight or nine possessions where, whether it was ball pressure or switching, just making plays defensively, that’s been a real point of emphasis in all my conversations in the times I have been with the team on the practice floor.
“We want him pressuring the ball. I told him yesterday, ‘If you get blown by and have 10 fouls, that’s on me. I want you up and pressuring the ball.’”