The Los Angeles Lakers have celebrated their first victory of 2024, narrowly edging out the Atlanta Hawks with an 87-86 win in a summer league game. The spotlight was on rookie guard Bronny James, who played a pivotal role in the team’s success.
An Impactful Start for Bronny
Bronny James, the 55th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, made a significant impact from the very beginning, starting the game with a 17-foot pull-up jumper. Overcoming a challenging start to the summer league, where he averaged 4.3 points and missed all 15 of his three-point attempts in the initial four games, James showcased his resilience and potential in this matchup.
A Strong Performance
James completed the game with 12 points, scoring nine in the first half. He hit 5-of-11 field goal attempts, including 2-of-5 from beyond the arc. His performance was highlighted by a crucial three-pointer late in the game that tied the score and set the stage for the Lakers' defensive stand to secure the win.
The rookie attributed his improved performance to his family's support. "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]," Bronny said. He added, "Just stay aggressive. Even though my shot hasn't been falling, just staying aggressive."
Veteran Guidance and Team Dynamics
Lakers center Colin Castleton also contributed significantly to the victory, with 17 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, and two steals. Castleton praised James’ progress, 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."
Zacharie Risacher, the Hawks’ No. 1 overall pick, and Dalton Knecht, the Lakers' first-round pick, were both notable absentees from the game. Despite these absences, the Lakers managed to end a five-game losing streak, signaling a potential turnaround for their summer league campaign.
Perspective and Criticism
Social media buzzed when Jaylen Brown was seen critiquing Bronny during the Lakers' previous loss to the Boston Celtics. Jaylen later remarked, "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, responding to the incident, defended Brown's remarks. "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.
Coach's Insight
Lakers summer league coach Dane Johnson also commended Bronny’s persistence, noting, "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."
As the summer league progresses, Bronny James remains optimistic about his future and the camaraderie with his father, LeBron James. "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," he expressed.
The Lakers will next face the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Chicago Bulls in their upcoming games in Las Vegas. As they continue to develop their young talent, all eyes will be on how Bronny James builds on this notable performance.