It might not have proven up within the field rating within the Los Angeles Lakers’ preseason opener, however coach JJ Redick mentioned he’s thrilled with the steps Bronny James took in his improvement forward of his second yr. The previous second-round choose made strides in Summer season League motion, and carried that momentum into the early days of coaching camp, despite the fact that it didn’t manifest throughout the Lakers’ 103-81 defeat in opposition to the Phoenix Suns.
James struggled from the sector in his preseason debut with a 1-for-12 effort. He collected 5 of his eight factors from the free throw line together with his solely subject purpose approaching a 3-point conversion.
“He’s a lot extra comfy and assured as a participant,” Redick mentioned. “Ability-wise, read-wise, all of these issues have improved, however there is a huge distinction between bettering these issues in particular person exercises and small group settings after which doing it 5-on-5. I’ve simply felt like all of September and in our first three days of camp, he simply appears to be like extra comfy and assured. He is a completely completely different participant than he was a yr in the past.”
James was solely a minimal contributor to the Lakers as a rookie and performed 6.7 minutes per sport throughout 27 appearances. He spent a lot of his yr within the G League, the place in distinction he excelled on each ends of the ground, averaging 21.9 factors, 5.1 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.9 steals per sport throughout 11 outings.
It stays to be seen whether or not James opens this season again on the Lakers’ roster or if he has extra work forward of him with the G League, however assistant coach Nate McMillan mentioned this summer season that LeBron James’ son might earn minutes on the NBA degree in his sophomore marketing campaign.
“I assumed the stuff that he did down within the G League final yr with South Bay and Zach (Guthrie) and his employees was big for him in simply creating a consolation degree with taking part in at this degree,” Redick mentioned. “By way of his progress, he will should be an influence defender, so it is actually concerning the conditioning and understanding our defenses and being disruptive. That is, to me, the place I might wish to see much more progress this yr.”
Solely fellow second-year teen Dalton Knecht noticed extra motion than James within the preseason opener, and he battled via a tough capturing night time of his personal. It could possibly be a busy preseason for the 2 because the Lakers search to find out what precisely they’ve in each of their 2024 draft picks.
“I’ve talked to him a bit of bit concerning the chase motion that he is been doing,” Redick mentioned. “He is such a dynamic mover. He has created a variety of thrust and tempo within the half courtroom for us utilizing that chase. His really feel offensively, from the place it was final yr to now, is so much larger. Actually, actually pleased with the expansion there.”
