Bronny James had another playing opportunity on Saturday night, helping his NBA G League team, the South Bay Lakers, pull a 119-111 win over the San Diego Clippers. The rookie son of LeBron James has somehow gained more experience playing in the developmental team, improving his numbers after every game.
LeBron Jr. finished the game with a career-high 16 points, also adding four rebounds and two assists. One highlight of the game that came from him was an explosive fastbreak dunk that caught the attention of social media.
Bronny starting us off with a 💥#SBLakers x @Lakers pic.twitter.com/M6jDNoh87c
— South Bay Lakers (@SouthBayLakers) December 8, 2024
While his stats in that game are comparatively better than his previous sets of games, he still has issues with his three-point shooting after he shot 0-for-4 from beyond the arc that night. He also worked on his aggressiveness that night, something that many criticize him for apparently lacking.
After the game, James reflected on his night, saying that he is focused on improving his skills one game at a time.
“I think it’s good. Game by game, trying to learn everything I can. Always just staying aggressive and playing my game. Playing for my teammates and coaches. It’s been good so far,” Bronny said.
Bronny James on his developmental process playing in the G League for the South Bay Lakers:
“I think it’s good. Just game by game, just trying to learn everything that I can. Always just staying aggressive and playing my game. Playing for my teammates and the coaches. It’s been… https://t.co/8NTxVnCi3F pic.twitter.com/uPLHExG9gX
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 8, 2024
Bronny James with a STRONG performance in the G League 💪
🔹16 PTS 🔹6-of-15 FG
🔹4 REB
🔹2 AST
He only played 22 minutes. pic.twitter.com/eedQ83IDVT
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 8, 2024
Bronny James was out for nearly a month, missing nine games due to a left heel contusion, before he was able to play in the Clippers matchup. His last game before last Saturday was on Nov. 10 against the Toronto Raptors.
Gilbert Arenas says Bronny James lacked his father’s aggressiveness
Before Bronny James’ NBA G League debut, Gilbert Arenas talked about the rookie’s play style. The former NBA All-Star guard said that the younger James lacked his father LeBron James’ offensive aggression, which the superstar forward has shown in the course of his 20-plus-year basketball career.
“The problem with Bronny’s game is he’s not aggressive. And when you’re not looking to score, it becomes a problem,” Arenas said on his “Gil’s Arena” podcast. “When you’re looking to make passes, you miss everything.”
Aside from Bronny’s passiveness, the former Washington Wizard also criticized the rookie’s seeming lack of awareness of when to shoot and when to pass.
“If you just be ultra aggressive, like, I’m looking to score, you stop me, then I make the pass. But if you’re sitting here trying to make a pass and the rim is right here, and then he’s ‘Oh, [redacted], it becomes a harder game,” Arenas said.
“His game is passive all the way around. Everything is secondary to him. And it’s just this awkward thing when he’s supposed to shoot it, he passes; when he’s supposed to pass it, he shoots it,” the former guard-turned-podcaster added.
“[Bronny’s] game is passive… It’s this awkward thing when he is supposed to shoot it he passes, when he is supposed to pass he shoots.”
Gilbert Arenas examines why Bronny James’ game isn’t working in the NBA. pic.twitter.com/33craZaO89
— Gilbert Arenas (@GilsArenaShow) November 11, 2024
Bronny James was never a prolific scorer in his college days. Instead, he is more notable for his defensive abilities, with many comparing him to Jrue Holiday. With him spending time in the G League, he is expected to gain the necessary experience to become a proper NBA player.
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