Bronny James is THE brand name in the California portion of the NBA Summer League. After his first performance as a professional — a four points, two rebounds, two assists After a crushing defeat against the Kings, it is understandable that fans feel a little disappointed.
His second attempt at conquering the NBA – a date with the Heat – proved equally frustrating, at least offensively.
James scored just three points in Wednesday’s 80-76 loss to Miami. He was somewhat reserved in his offensive exploits, taking a back seat as Dalton Knecht (20 points) and Maxwell Lewis (14 points) put in impressive performances.
It was on the other side of the court that James shone. He stopped three Heat shots while stealing the ball from two Miami players. Not to mention the countless shots he changed with his mere presence.
The second-round pick was far from efficient. He attempted just three shots in 29 minutes of play. But his defensive burst leaves no doubt that James is productive at that level of the floor. Maybe that will give him some NBA-level reps when it comes time to make the move.
MORE: Bronny James Summer League Schedule
How many points did Bronny James score today?
Here are James’ stats at halftime of his NBA Summer League game against the Heat.
- Minutes: 29
- Points: 3
- Rebounds: 5
- Aids: 3
- Stolen : 2
- Blocks: 3
- For the attention of: 2
- Mistakes: 0
- FG-FGA: 1-3
- 3P-3PA: 0-1
James had an uneven offensive performance in the first half. He made two good passes to the basket, finishing long with a reverse layup early in the first quarter and absorbing contact to draw a foul in the second quarter. A three-point attempt was made and turned aside by the Lakers rookie, who spent much of the 20 minutes playing off the ball with former St. Mary’s point guard Tommy Kahse.
James made a real impact on the other end of the court, where he was relentless. He deflected several passes during the quarter and showed off his advanced skills navigating screens and staying in front of opposing guards. His matchups rarely found the space and time to launch unopposed shots when James was around.
Bronny James’ highlights against the Warriors
James opened the game with a long reverse layup, controlling Dalton Knecht’s pass on the fast break to set up his score of the day.
Bronny James finishes Dalton Knecht’s backhand off the plate ????
Link to the Lakers’ 2024 draft class ????
LAL-MIA | California Classic on ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/gnAk3y1ghB
— NBA (@NBA) July 10, 2024
He really shone in defence though, repelling his opponent’s effort before sending a pass to Colin Castleton to create a chance at the free-throw line.
Bronny’s defensive instincts can’t be taught… he’s just an absolute THREAT as a defender ???? pic.twitter.com/xnS20rqu9t
— Lakers all day, every day (@LADEig) July 10, 2024
This section will be updated.
