SUMMARY
- Bronny James put up 4 points and 4 rebounds in 19 minutes during his first NBA scrimmage.
- The Lakers can be a safety net for Bronny if other teams pass up on him during the draft.
Bronny James had a fairly good performance during the NBA Draft Combine and it seems as if he’s been putting in the extra work to get better at his game. While his height, weight, and wingspan might be a bit of a letdown to some, the 19-year-old showed that he’s smart enough to create his own shot and attack the rim with force. During the draft combine scrimmage, he put up 4 points and 4 rebounds in 19 minutes, which is fairly good for starters.
Bronny James in his NBA Draft Combine Scrimmage:
19 minutes
4 points
4 rebounds pic.twitter.com/xQKxtYFckm— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) May 14, 2024
During his time at USC, the point guard proved that he’s a great playmaker and a defensive specialist. Bronny also seems to know exactly where his strengths and weaknesses are, which will help him improve in a better way. But unfortunately, he still hasn’t made a strong enough case for scouts to bring him onto the main stage. Sources claim that he’s most likely going to be a tremendous player in the G League. But being LeBron James’ son and competing in the G League may not be well received by fans.
The Lakers’ veterans could instill great knowledge in Bronny James
Now, if Bronny James manages to attract recruits ahead of the NBA Draft, it would still be a top second-round pick at the least. However, if he fails to get drafted by teams, the Los Angeles Lakers will be his only hope to avoid being undrafted. The Lakers do have a late second-round pick in the draft which they could use to acquire the former USC guard.
Bronny James in his first scrimmage đź‘€
(🎥 @Frankie_Vision) pic.twitter.com/cHlChz7f43
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 14, 2024
If he does manage to find a spot on the Lakers’ roster, it wouldn’t be the worst situation for him. He would have to adjust coming off the bench as the 11th man but pairing him alongside his father would help him develop his game in the best ways possible. Additionally, he would get to learn who to utilize ball-dominant players like Anthony Davis off the pick and roll, or in transition. Spencer Dinwiddie would play a major role in his upbringing as well. All three of these veterans are going to be great mentors for Bronny James.
Bronny James will have to work his way to the top
It goes without saying that Bronny James won’t be given a lot of minutes right off the bat. Firstly, he would need to learn how to adjust to the physicality of the NBA which is something he could pick from LeBron James. Bronny also would need to understand where he fits in the league in terms of his skillset. That’s where he would have to let go of all the outside noise about him living up to his father’s legacy and focus on being the best version of himself.
In college, Bronny averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game on 36.6% shooting per game. These numbers won’t be too easy to achieve in the NBA solely based on the fact that he doesn’t have the experience playing leading roles on a college roster. But he wouldn’t be the first player in the league to start off at the scrap end of the roster. He compared himself to players like Derrick White, who never had much of a presence until now. He knows exactly what he’s getting into.