Bronny James delivered his best performance of the NBA Summer League in the Los Angeles Lakers’ narrow 87-86 win over the Atlanta Hawks in Las Vegas. After a challenging start to his Summer League career, where he had missed all 16 of his 3-point attempts, James made significant strides in this game.
James scored a career-high 12 points, making 5 of 11 field goal attempts and 2 of 5 from beyond the arc. He also contributed a crucial corner three-pointer in the final minutes of the game. In addition to his scoring, he added one rebound and one steal to his performance.
“I feel like I know the right way to play,” James said in a postgame interview with reporters, including ESPN’s Baxter Holmes. “So if I go out there and play my game every game, results like that will come.”
With his father, LeBron James, currently participating in the USA Olympic team and watching from abroad, Bronny James received advice to help overcome his earlier shooting struggles. “‘Just stay aggressive,'” James recounted his father’s advice. “Even though my shot hasn’t been falling, just staying aggressive.”
Chosen by the Lakers as the No. 55 pick in last month’s draft, James has faced intense scrutiny as the potential first father-son duo in NBA history. His minimal statistical impact during his freshman season at USC, coupled with his four-year guaranteed contract—a rarity for a player drafted in his position—has only heightened the focus on him.
Bronny James, at 19 years old, acknowledged the pressure and its impact. “It’s something,” he said regarding the scrutiny. “But it’s something I’ve got to deal with if I’m going to play at this level.”
