Bronny James Shines as Lakers Secure First Victory of 2024 Summer League
The Los Angeles Lakers clinched their first victory of the 2024 summer league, narrowly defeating the Atlanta Hawks 87-86. The game was highlighted by the impressive performance of rookie guard Bronny James, who played a pivotal role in securing the win.
Selected as the 55th overall pick in the 2024 draft, Bronny James showed flashes of brilliance, particularly in the first half. He started the game on a high note, sinking a 17-foot pull-up jumper that set the tone for his performance. Despite averaging just 4.3 points and missing all 15 three-point attempts in his first four summer league outings, Bronny turned things around against the Hawks, finishing with 12 points and making two critical three-pointers.
Bronny's resurgence was evident from the statistics; he made 5-of-11 field goal attempts, including 2-of-5 from beyond the arc. One of those three-pointers came late in the game, tying the score and setting the stage for a thrilling finish. "My mom, my dad really help me, encouraging me to stay focused and keep being myself," Bronny said after the game. "So I feel like that's a big part of how I came out [tonight]."
The Lakers' win didn't just hinge on Bronny's performance, though. Center Colin Castleton also had a standout game, scoring 17 points, grabbing 12 rebounds, dishing out six assists, and making two steals. Castleton praised Bronny's resilience and potential. "I think he's stepping into a good role. It takes a little bit of time," Castleton noted. "He has a lot of pressure, a lot of things on him. So he has a great mindset. He's a great kid, great teammate, and we love being around him. Everybody in the organization loves being around him and he took great shots tonight and just got a good rhythm."
Absent from the action were Zacharie Risacher, the No. 1 overall pick by the Hawks, and the Lakers' first-round draft pick Dalton Knecht. Despite their absences, the game was a nail-biter until the final moments when the Lakers secured the win with a critical defensive stop in the closing seconds.
Although this victory ended a five-game losing streak for the Lakers, it also provided a glimpse into the potential future of their developing roster. The shot selection and confidence of Bronny James were highlighted by assistant coach Dane Johnson. "He had those same shots previously, and he just missed them. So, we're going to encourage him to keep taking those. If he's open and we have an open catch-and-shoot [shot], we want him to shoot those, along with everybody else. Open catch-and-shoot threes are what we're looking for. Even if you're not making them, believe in yourself, have confidence in yourself," Johnson said.
Off the court, social media buzzed when Jaylen Brown appeared to critique Bronny during the Lakers' loss to the Boston Celtics. However, the young guard's focus remains unwavering, bolstered by the support of his family and teammates. "Just stay aggressive. Even though my shot hasn't been falling, just staying aggressive," Bronny emphasized.
Rich Paul added context to Brown's comments, defending his stance and highlighting the nuances of professional critique. "You can't take everybody's opinion and try to turn it against him or think that he's a bad person. At least [Brown] is someone who is actually in the league. There's a lot of 'experts' with no expertise; he's actually an expert with expertise. So, if he has that opinion, he can have that opinion. I know Jaylen. I know he doesn't mean that with any malice. He was just having a conversation."
Looking ahead, the Lakers have two more scheduled games in Las Vegas, facing the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Chicago Bulls. As Bronny continues to adjust to the professional stage, he remains optimistic about the journey ahead. "I feel like playing together [and] going to work together every day is just going to build on the relationship we already have. Build that connection, maybe even stronger. But I'm excited to get to work with my dad," Bronny shared.
The path to greatness is rarely straightforward, but for Bronny James, it appears the foundation is well-laid. As the summer league progresses, all eyes will remain on the young guard, eager to witness the next chapter of his burgeoning career.