Never has there been such anticipation for a player picked 55th overall in the NBA Draft. Yet, as the ball tipped off in the NBA Summer League game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Sacramento Kings, all eyes were on Bronny James . Playing in his first contest as a member of the famed Lakers, the same squad his father LeBron James is starring for, the 19-year-old felt like a rookie before eventually playing like one. Though not stellar, his performance was significant as it marked the beginning of his journey in the Association.
Felt nervous at first
The 6-foot-1 guard admitted nerves got the better of him before the game began. Although he said he felt much better as the contest progressed, the rookie guard still ended with subpar numbers of four points on 2-of-9 shooting. James Jr. missed all three of his three-pointers and went 0-for-2 from the charity stripe.
The former USC Trojan salvaged his performance by recording two rebounds, two assists, and a steal in 22 minutes.
"Every first game I have at the next level, there's always butterflies in my stomach," Bronny said of his Summer League debut . "But as soon as the ball tips off and we go a couple of times down the court, it all goes away, and I play basketball."
The silver lining from James Jr.'s rough first game was that he said he felt more comfortable playing the NBA game than the NCAA one. In his one-and-done season with USC, the athletic guard averaged only 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game.
"I feel like I really slowed down, especially on the offensive end. The week of practice that we had, I felt it really prepared me for what was to come. I felt comfortable," Bronny stated.
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Getting more game reps
Although the younger James missed Sunday's contest against the Golden State Warriors due to swelling in his knee, he said the plan for him at this juncture is to get in as many reps as possible to build his confidence for when the games count. The aggressiveness was there, which was good to see, but according to the Lakers Summer League coach Dane Johnson, all Bronny needs is more experience.
"Game by game, I'm growing more comfortable in playing my game. This is a big part of coming out here and getting those reps," James Jr. remarked, emphasizing his determination to improve.
Bronny remains optimistic as he takes the first steps of what he hopes will be a long NBA journey. For now, it's about soaking in the experience and getting a feel for what basketball at this level is really like. James Jr. has a long way to go to prove that he belongs at the professional level, but it's clear that he has all the tools and potential to do so. His father's influence and guidance will undoubtedly play a significant role in his development on and off the court.
Related: JJ Redick refutes claims of nepotism in the L.A. Lakers' selection of Bronny James: "Bronny has earned this through hard work"
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