Bronny James Shines as Lakers Triumph Over Hawks in Summer League
The Los Angeles Lakers secured their first win of the 2024 summer league season in thrilling fashion, edging out the Atlanta Hawks 87-86. The victory was particularly sweet as it ended a five-game losing streak and showcased the emergence of rookie guard Bronny James, a player under intense scrutiny and high expectations.
Bronny James, the 55th overall pick in the 2024 draft, played a pivotal role throughout the game. Despite a challenging start to his professional career, averaging 4.3 points and missing all 15 of his three-point attempts in the previous four games, James showed significant improvement. He finished this match with 12 points, including a crucial three-pointer that tied the score late in the game. His final stat line read an impressive 5-of-11 from the field and 2-of-5 from beyond the arc.
Reflecting on his performance, Bronny attributed his resilience to family support. "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 said. His determination was evident in his aggressive approach, describing his strategy as, "Just stay aggressive. Even though my shot hasn't been falling, just staying aggressive."
The game began with Bronny James confidently hitting a 17-foot pull-up jumper, setting the tone for what would be his best performance in the summer league thus far. He scored nine of his total points in the first half, demonstrating both skill and composure under pressure.
Another standout for the Lakers was center Colin Castleton, who delivered a stellar all-around performance with 17 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, and two steals. Castleton praised James's development, noting, "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."
The game was also notable for who did not play. Zacharie Risacher, the No. 1 overall pick by the Hawks, and the Lakers' first-round draft pick, Dalton Knecht, both sat out. Despite these absences, the game was a closely contested affair, ultimately decided by a crucial defensive stop by the Lakers in the closing seconds.
Bronny James's performance did not go unnoticed by fellow NBA stars. Jaylen Brown, who was captured on social media appearing to critique Bronny during a previous Lakers loss to the Boston Celtics, offered a more supportive perspective. "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."
Rich Paul, a notable agent and close family friend, defended Brown's earlier comments, stating, "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."
The Lakers' coaching staff also supported Bronny's shooting strategy. Assistant coach Dane Johnson emphasized, "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."
Bronny himself looks forward to building on this experience, particularly relishing the opportunity to work closely with his father, 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."
Up next, the Lakers will face the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Chicago Bulls in their remaining scheduled games in Las Vegas. With Bronny James finding his rhythm and the team ending their losing streak, there is a renewed sense of optimism and excitement surrounding this young Lakers squad.