In a video clip that went viral on Monday night, Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown appeared to question whether Los Angeles Lakers rookie Bronny James has the potential to be a professional player. Brown was courtside at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, watching the Celtics’ summer league game against the Lakers with his girlfriend, Kysre Gondrezick, and Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese.
Hours later, Jaylen Brown took to social media to clarify his stance, expressing his optimism about James’ future: “Look forward to watching his growth.”
James, the No. 55 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, had a challenging performance with two points on 1-for-5 shooting, three rebounds, one assist, and two turnovers in 25 minutes during the Lakers’ 88-74 loss to the Celtics on Monday. Over four summer league games, split between Las Vegas and the California Classic in Sacramento, James has struggled with his shooting, going 0 for 15 from 3-point range. Despite these struggles, it’s important to note that James, who turns 20 in October, was drafted primarily for his defensive potential and is seen as a development project.
Lakers coach JJ Redick spoke about James’ potential in an interview on SiriusXM NBA Radio last week, emphasizing his defensive capabilities and long-term development:
“He’s a development player. That’s how we’re looking at Bronny. He’s certainly going to spend time with the Lakers. He will spend time as well in the G League,” Redick said. “As we sort of build out our player development program, he’s going to be an important part of that. And what I’ve communicated to him, right now, what we’re looking for is defensive ball pressure. I told him this yesterday. I said, ‘I don’t care if you have 10 fouls, I don’t care if you get blown by. What I do care about is if you’re on the ball and you’re three feet off the ball. You have to be a guy that’s a ball hawk at all times.'”
Redick added that the Lakers are committed to developing James’ shot and ball skills, noting that he already possesses a great defensive instinct. This patient and focused approach aims to maximize James’ potential and integrate him effectively into the team’s future plans
Comments