Bronny James Shines in Lakers' First Summer League Victory
In a high-stakes summer league game, the Los Angeles Lakers finally clinched their first victory of 2024 by narrowly defeating the Atlanta Hawks 87-86. The game was a significant milestone, not just for the team but also for rookie guard Bronny James, who played a crucial role in the triumph.
Starting the game with a flourish, Bronny James, the 55th overall pick in the 2024 draft, curled off a screen to sink a smooth 17-foot pull-up jumper. Despite his initial struggles in the first four summer league games—where he averaged a mere 4.3 points and failed to make any of his 15 three-point attempts—James showed signs of promise. This match marked an essential comeback for him as he finished with 12 points, nine of which were scored in the first half.
James displayed a marked improvement in his shooting accuracy, going 5-of-11 from the field, including hitting two of five attempts from beyond the arc. In a critical moment late in the game, he nailed a clutch three-pointer to tie the score, demonstrating his ability to perform under pressure.
In post-game comments, Bronny credited his family for helping him remain focused. "My mom, my dad really help me, encouraging me to stay focused and keep being myself. So I feel like that's a big part of how I came out [tonight]," he remarked. Reflecting on his strategy moving forward, he added, "Just stay aggressive. Even though my shot hasn't been falling, just staying aggressive,” crediting his father, LeBron James, for the advice.
The Lakers managed to hold off the Hawks in the closing seconds, securing the win with a critical defensive stop. Lakers center Colin Castleton led the charge with an impressive stat line of 17 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, and two steals, proving instrumental in the victory. Castleton also shared his thoughts on Bronny's performance, stating, "I think he's stepping into a good role. It takes a little bit of time. He has a lot of pressure, a lot of things on him. So he has a great mindset. He's a great kid, great teammate, and we love being around him. Everybody in the organization loves being around him and he took great shots tonight and just got a good rhythm."
The game was notable for the absence of two significant players: Zacharie Risacher, the No. 1 overall pick by the Hawks, and the Lakers’ first-round draft pick, Dalton Knecht. Despite these absences, the Lakers managed to end their five-game losing streak.
Bronny has been a focal point of discussions both on and off the court. A viral social media post captured Jaylen Brown appearing to critique Bronny during the Lakers' summer league loss to the Boston Celtics. Nevertheless, Brown later expressed admiration, stating, "It's a flex to have your son alongside you in the NBA. It reflects greatness and longevity! Bronny has all the tools around him to be successful. I look forward to watching his growth."
Rich Paul, a prominent figure in the basketball world, defended Brown's earlier comment. "You can't take everybody's opinion and try to turn it against him or think that he's a bad person. At least [Brown] is someone who is actually in the league. There's a lot of 'experts' with no expertise; he's actually an expert with expertise. So, if he has that opinion, he can have that opinion. I know Jaylen. I know he doesn't mean that with any malice. He was just having a conversation,” Paul explained.
Dane Johnson, another key figure around Bronny, encouraged the young player to keep shooting. "He had those same shots previously, and he just missed them. So, we're going to encourage him to keep taking those. If he's open and we have an open catch-and-shoot [shot], we want him to shoot those, along with everybody else. Open catch-and-shoot threes are what we're looking for. Even if you're not making them, believe in yourself, have confidence in yourself," Johnson affirmed.
The Lakers have two more scheduled games in Las Vegas, facing the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday and the Chicago Bulls on Saturday. These matches will be crucial for Bronny James as he continues to find his footing and build on his recent success. “I feel like playing together [and] going to work together every day is just going to build on the relationship we already have. Build that connection, maybe even stronger. But I'm excited to get to work with my dad," Bronny said, reflecting on his journey and looking forward to more experiences on the court.