Los Angeles Lakers rookie Bronny James just got his feet wet as a pro during the first Summer League game of his career. For coach Dane Johnson, though, it won’t be the last as he’s planning the young guard to play for the entirety of the competition.
In his much-anticipated debut, James had a rather underwhelming performance as the Lakers fell to the Sacramento Kings at the California Classic. The young prospect shot a mere 2-of-9 from the field and missed both of his free throw attempts, finishing the game with only four points, two assists, two rebounds, and a steal.

James’ struggles were largely due to the well-documented concerns about his jump shot, which has long been considered the primary weakness in his game. As a result, his path to success in the NBA was always projected to be through the 3-and-D role player route. However, on this occasion, he failed to convert on five of his attempts from outside the paint, with his only successful field goal coming on a layup.
Despite the disappointing start, there were some positive takeaways from James’ debut. He displayed a good feel for the game and an understanding of how to operate within an offense, showcasing his decisiveness as a ball-handler and his ability to create opportunities for himself, such as the smooth behind-the-back dribble that led to a mid-range jumper in the third quarter.
Los Angeles Lakers Summer League Coach Dane Johnson To Play Bronny James in All Games

After the game, various takes were given about James’ performance in his first Summer League game. Among those was Los Angeles’ head coach, Dane Johnson, and what he plans to do with LeBron James’ son in this tournament. According to an article written by Janie McCauley for NBA.com:
“Hopefully he’ll play all the games, we’ll see how it goes,” Johnson said. “We’re going to try to integrate him and get him as many reps as we can. He needs more experience playing.”
In his freshman year at USC, Bronny James averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists. However, his strong performance at the Draft Combine led the Lakers to select him with the 55th overall pick, raising expectations for his professional debut.

Even though his initial foray underwhelmed, there’s still a chance for James to shine in the upcoming Summer League games. Fans should keep an eye on the Lakers rookie to see how he’ll shape up as a pro in the NBA.

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