In a surprising move, the Los Angeles Lakers benched Bronny James, the most hyped rookie of the NBA Summer League. Despite a rocky start, James showed promise by scoring 25 points on 10-of-21 shooting in his final two games, including 3 of 8 from beyond the arc. However, after a series of four disappointing games where he went 0 for 15 from three, the decision was made to bench Bronny James, signaling the Lakers’ belief that they had seen enough.
Why the Lakers Benched Bronny James: Analyzing the Controversial Decision
Lakers Summer League coach Dane Johnson reflected on James’ performance, noting his improvement: “He had two pretty good games. It’s going to help him this summer as we work on different things. He needs confidence knowing he can play at this level.”
However, not everyone was pleased. During the Lakers’ 107-81 win over the Chicago Bulls, fans erupted in chants of “We want Bronny,” frustrated by the decision to bench the young star.
Starting his Summer League stint poorly, James shot 7 for 31 overall, prompting whispers that the Lakers had wasted their 55th pick to appease franchise icon LeBron James. But Bronny began to silence his critics with impressive games against the Atlanta Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers.
“He doesn’t let the noise get to him,” Johnson added. “He just wants to play basketball. He’s a good kid, listening and learning.”
At 6-foot-2, James has the build of a point guard but plays as a shooting guard due to ballhandling concerns. This could be problematic against taller players. Johnson suggested a potential shift: “Right now he’s more of a shooting guard, but he picks up things quickly. We might work on making him a combo guard.”
Consistency remains a concern, especially with his perimeter shooting. The Lakers plan to ease James into the G League to work out the kinks, though he will have opportunities with the main squad. The buzz around James is undeniable, and the Lakers know the excitement he’ll bring once called up.
No father-son duo has played together in an NBA game, a rarity in major North American sports. The Griffeys did it in MLB, and Gordie Howe with his sons in hockey. The James family aims to join this exclusive club, a feat they won’t take for granted after Bronny’s health scare last summer. He suffered cardiac arrest during a USC workout, had surgery for a congenital heart defect, and missed the start of his college season.
Averaging 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in his lone college season, Bronny declared for the NBA draft, opting for the professional challenge over returning to USC. The future holds many uncertainties for the young star, but one thing is clear: all eyes will be on Bronny James as he navigates his path in the NBA.
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