Even if the stats didn’t highlight it during the Los Angeles Lakers’ initial preseason game, head coach JJ Redick voiced his excitement about the advancement Bronny James has demonstrated as he prepares for his second season. The former second-round selection displayed progress during Summer League play and maintained that energy into the initial phases of training camp, even though it wasn’t apparent during the Lakers’ 103-81 loss to the Phoenix Suns.
James encountered difficulties with his shooting in his preseason introduction, achieving a 1-for-12 shooting record. He secured five of his eight total points from free throws, with his single field goal originating from a 3-point attempt.
“He is much more at ease and assured as a player,” Redick commented. “In terms of his skill, understanding, and other aspects, he has improved across the board, but there’s a significant distinction between enhancing those elements in focused workouts and small team environments compared to applying them in a 5-on-5 context. I’ve sensed that throughout September and during the first three days of our camp, he appears more relaxed and self-assured. He’s an entirely different player compared to how he was a year ago.”
James had a relatively limited role for the Lakers during his rookie season, participating for 6.7 minutes per game over 27 appearances. He spent a considerable portion of his year in the G League, where he stood out on both ends of the court, averaging 21.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.9 steals per game in 11 games.
Whether James begins this season on the Lakers’ active roster or needs additional development in the G League is still uncertain, but assistant coach Nate McMillan mentioned during the summer that LeBron James’ son could potentially earn playing time at the NBA level during his second year.
“I believed the work he accomplished in the G League last year with South Bay and Zach (Guthrie) and his staff was crucial for him to establish a sense of comfort with playing at this level,” Redick mentioned. “Regarding his development, he will need to be a impactful defender, so the focus is primarily on his physical conditioning, understanding our defensive strategies, and creating disruptions. In my opinion, that’s where I’d like to observe even greater improvement this year.”
Only fellow second-year player Dalton Knecht participated more than James during the preseason debut, and he also struggled with his shooting performance. It could be a busy preseason for the two players as the Lakers aim to determine their potential contributions from their 2024 draft picks.
“I’ve engaged in some discussion with him regarding the chase action he’s been executing,” Redick noted. “He’s such a versatile mover. He has generated considerable momentum and pace in the half-court setting for us through that chase. His offensive awareness, compared to last year, is substantially improved. I am genuinely satisfied with his progress in that area.”
