The Los Angeles Lakers elected to relaxation Bronny James, Dalton Knecht and Maxwell Lewis of their Las Vegas Summer season League finale Saturday in opposition to the Chicago Bulls for medical causes, in response to sideline reporter Mike Trudell. Whereas they didn’t have particular accidents that wanted rehabilitation, the Lakers performed extra summer time league video games than a lot of the groups in Las Vegas as a result of in addition they participated within the California Traditional forward of time. They due to this fact determined that that they had seen sufficient and shut a few of their highest-profile younger gamers down.
That call ended a tumultuous summer time league for James. The son of NBA legend LeBron James, Bronny missed his first 15 3-pointers as a Laker and customarily struggled fairly a bit on offense. He made up for it in his closing two video games, although, scoring 25 mixed factors and flashing among the defensive upside that made him an interesting skilled prospect.
“He had two fairly good video games final two,” Lakers summer time league coach Dane Johnson informed reporters Saturday. “I believe it is simply going to assist him going into the summer time so we are able to work on various things with him. Simply that confidence and figuring out he can play at this degree. It is nonetheless going to take a variety of time and a variety of reps.”
James, although he’s below a assured NBA contract and has a roster spot on the Lakers, will now seemingly put together to spend a lot of his rookie season enjoying within the G League. Although he ended summer time league on a excessive notice, his total efficiency was nonetheless uneven to say the least. His jumper remains to be distant from being viable on the NBA degree, and his deal with wants work as properly if he’s going to create his personal photographs.
From that perspective, summer time league stands out as the most of James that NBA followers will see for a short time. Although he’ll seemingly make spot appearances off of the bench for the Lakers, he’s nonetheless very a lot a mission. Summer season league was a step in the suitable path, however now that it is over, he’ll must put within the quiet work it takes to change into an NBA-caliber participant.
