After starting his NBA Summer League career 0-of-16 from 3-point range, Bronny James took a big step forward in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 87-86 victory over the Atlanta Hawks in Las Vegas.
James dropped a career-high 12 points, going 5-for-11 from the field and 2-of-5 from deep, including a clutch corner three in the game’s final minutes. He added a rebound and a steal to his tally.
“I feel like I know the right way to play,” James told reporters postgame, including ESPN’s Baxter Holmes. “So if I go out there and play my game every game, results like that will come.”
With his Hall of Fame father, LeBron, watching from the other side of the world with the USA Olympic team, the younger James received helpful advice to break out of his cold spell.
“‘Just stay aggressive,'” James said his father told him. “Even though my shot hasn’t been falling, just staying aggressive.”
James became the most scrutinized No. 55 pick of all time after the Lakers chose him in last month’s draft, teeing him and his father up to be the first father-son duo in NBA history.
Despite his minimal statistical output as a freshman at USC, James’ selection and subsequent four-year guaranteed contract – relatively uncommon at his draft spot – only further increased the microscope on him.
For his part, the 19-year-old admitted he’s “just trying to stay sane.”
“It’s something,” Bronny said about all the scrutiny. “But it’s something I’ve got to deal with if I’m going to play at this level.”
