Los Angeles Lakers rookie Bronny James struggled again as his team fell to 0-3 in NBA Summer League play on Wednesday.
In the match against the Miami Heat, James put up the fewest shots of all the players starting the game. He finished with just three points. His full stats are three points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals, and three blocks in a match against the Miami Heat that ended in a loss.
The Lakers ultimately fell to the Miami Heat 80-76. Dalton Knecht was the standout performer for the Lakers, who scored 20 points on 7-of-18 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds. From the Miami Heat team, Keshad Johnson and Alondes Williams scored the most points with 21 points, nine rebounds, and three assists each.
In the summer League debut against the Sacramento Kings, Bronny managed only four points, two rebounds, and two assists. After sitting out the game, he returned again but was unable to make a significant impact.
The defensive play of Bronny shows some promise which was expected given his reputation leading up to the 2024 NBA Draft. However, his offensive play needs some work and is evident in both the games he played. It was visible in the games against the Kings and Heat. The Lakers have invested in Bronny and offered him a four-year guaranteed contract.
Bronny playing with his father LeBron James makes for the first father-son duo to take the court together in NBA history. This could also add a unique pressure on the rookie.
Ultimately, it will be up to Bronny to prove his worth in the NBA, eventually, his father’s influence will fade away.
LeBron James defends his son with a statement. “When I came in as a rookie, I wanted people to like me, and some of the things that people were saying about me kind of bothered me early on in my career. … He doesn’t give a f*ck. He does not care about nobody. He doesn’t even listen to that stuff. He’s like the coolest. He’s like the complete opposite of his dad.”