In an exhilarating summer league matchup, the Los Angeles Lakers clinched their first victory of 2024, edging out the Atlanta Hawks with a nail-biting 87-86 finish. This narrow victory was punctuated by the impressive performance of rookie guard Bronny James, who is quickly becoming a key player to watch.
Bronny James Shines
Bronny James, selected 55th overall in the 2024 draft, played a pivotal role in the Lakers' win. The young guard began making an impact right from the start by sinking a confident 17-foot pull-up jumper. Despite a rocky start to his summer league journey, where he averaged 4.3 points and failed to connect on any of his 15 three-point attempts over the first four games, Bronny broke through in decisive fashion.
In this critical game, Bronny tallied 12 points, with nine of those coming in the first half. He made 5-of-11 field goal attempts, including 2-of-5 from beyond the arc. As the clock wound down, Bronny sank a crucial three-pointer to tie the game, displaying poise and maturity beyond his years.
"Just stay aggressive. Even though my shot hasn't been falling, just staying aggressive," Bronny noted after the game, reflecting on his determined mindset. Another key to his performance was the unwavering support from his family. "My mom, my dad really help me, encouraging me to stay focused and keep being myself. So I feel like that's a big part of how I came out [tonight]," he shared.
Team Effort and Defensive Resilience
The Lakers' win was a testament to a strong team effort and a decisive defensive play in the closing moments. Center Colin Castleton was dominant in the paint, racking up 17 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, and two steals. Castleton's leadership on and off the court has been instrumental for the Lakers during the summer league.
"I think he's stepping into a good role. It takes a little bit of time. 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," remarked Castleton about Bronny.
The Lakers managed to secure the victory despite the absence of their first-round draft pick, Dalton Knecht, and the Hawks' No. 1 overall pick, Zacharie Risacher. The win also snapped a five-game losing streak for the Lakers, signaling a potential turning point for the team.
High Hopes and Constructive Criticism
The game came just days after a social media post surfaced showing Jaylen Brown seemingly critiquing Bronny during the Lakers' loss to the Boston Celtics. Despite the unintended public scrutiny, Brown clarified his admiration for Bronny's potential. "It's a flex to have your son alongside you in the NBA. It reflects greatness and longevity! Bronny has all the tools around him to be successful. I look forward to watching his growth," Brown expressed.
Rich Paul, an influential figure in the basketball community, also weighed in, defending Brown's comments. "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," Paul stated.
Coaching and Team Dynamics
Lakers' coach Dane Johnson was encouraging about Bronny's performance, emphasizing the importance of maintaining confidence. "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 explained.
Looking ahead, the Lakers are set to face the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Chicago Bulls in their remaining scheduled games in Las Vegas. The experience and exposure gained during this period will be invaluable, particularly for Bronny James. As Bronny continues to grow and refine his game, he reflects on the special bond he shares with his father, NBA legend LeBron James. "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 concluded.
The undeniable promise and potential of Bronny James, coupled with solid team dynamics and supportive coaching, augur well for the Lakers as they navigate the remainder of the summer league and prepare for the upcoming season.