Paul Pierce isn't worried about Bronny James' poor start because it's still the Summer League: "Still summer, still time to develop"

Bronny James is making the Los Angeles Lakers front office look bad. After taking a chance with him with the 55th overall pick of the 2024 NBA Draft, the young guard has struggled through three Summer League games, leading critics to say they made a huge mistake in drafting him.

But if you ask Hall of Famer Paul Pierce , now isn't the time to be too worried about Bronny. That's because it's just the Summer League, where players still try to adjust and get the feel of the NBA game.

"In saying that, still summer, still time to develop, so I wouldn't put too much stock on the Summer League," stated Pierce. "You look a Knecht, he's giving you 20, 25, you think that's going to translate to the NBA game? I don't know. I seen guys average 30 in Summer League scoring and can' throw rock in the ocean when they get to the NBA game because you got players that are bigger, stronger, faster, better.

He's got to start knocking down his shots

While Pierce isn't worried about Bronny right now, he does have one concern. Paul believes that if LeBron Jr. is to succeed in the NBA, he must improve his three-point shooting.

Bronny has now shown flashes of the NBA-caliber defense that many expected him to bring. However, as a 3-and-D player, he must make his three-pointers, or he will not see any playing time at all.

"I don't expect him to be a major scorer, I don't expect him to be a superstar, but I do expect him to at some point start knocking down shots because that's what I see him as, if he's gonna develop into anything in the NBA situation, you gotta make shots, it's plain and simple," added Pierce.

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Bronny has shot bricks in the Summer League

USC product has gotten every opportunity to prove his worth in the Summer League. However, during his time, he's shot a measly 6-26 from the floor, including a horrendous 0-12 from behid the three-point line. Bronny said that he's in a 'little slump' right now .

"I always try to use my athleticism to my advantage. Drilling that into my head as it can open up my shot a bit even though it hasn't been falling, just opening up something. I just feel like I'm in a little slump right now," Bronny said after their loss to the Rockets.

There's no doubt that Bronny can make the three-ball. We saw him kill that three-point workout during the Draft Combine. But perhaps the pressure is slowly getting into his head, and the more he misses, the more he feels the pressure. But he has to overcome that if he wants to play with his pops in the Lakers lineup.

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