Bronnie James created the headlines in a summer league matchup with the Dallas Mavericks.
It was for his tenacious defensive performance as well as facing the number one pickcooper flag. The young Lakers security guards showed hustle and determination while protecting the talent of a generation.
Flagg struggled very hard under Brony’s defensive pressure, managing only 10 points with a terrible 23.8% shooting performance.
Duke products were unable to connect to any of his five three-point attempts, marking a difficult debut against determined defense.
Bronnie James faced his own offensive challenges, scoring just eight points with 25% shooting. He highlighted the inconsistency in his shooting that missed his three-pointer in the final seconds that could have secured the Lakers’ victory.
Despite the offensive struggle, Bronnie’s defensive efforts against players labeled as generations have produced significant admiration.
He has made many promises in the area that he really wants to improve. Lakers analyst Mike Bresnahan said Bronnie has a lot of confidence in the most important moments.
“When Bronnie takes the final shot, beat the Lakers, bends after 8 seconds left and gets the ball on top of the arc, he’s like, ‘This is my shot.’
Bresnahan has noticed significant physical development since the end of the Lakers season.
“And when I spoke to him last week, he was a very confident young man, and he was working on things a few months after the Lakers season ended and I saw a good glimpse of that.
Analysts believe Bronnie’s improved conditioning will show expectations for a larger role next season. The 20-year-old security guard’s focus on physical preparation suggests he is prepared for an increased responsibility.
“He said very, very, very advance. I said, what have you worked on since we last saw you? “Conditioning” is what he said.
“So he might be expecting a bigger role for the Lakers, or at least wanting a bigger role,” Bresnahan explained.
Brony’s rookie campaign created unsubscribed numbers, including 2.3 points, 0.7 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 0.3 steel per game. However, his development trajectory showed promise throughout the season.
The security guards showed improvements during the G-League stint, recording his first double-digit NBA game with 17 points against the Milwaukee Bucks last March. These potential flashes suggest room for growth in his second season.
As Bronnie continues to develop defensive strength while honing the shooting mechanics, he will be able to buy more playing time alongside his father, LeBron James, next season.
The summer league performance against Flagg provides the foundation for optimism about his defensive ceiling.