Bronny James Summer League takeaways: Lakers rookie shows defensive tools, offensive potential in Las Vegas

Bronny James found a way to make his presence felt during his time at 2024 NBA Summer League.

With the Lakers participating in both the California Classic in San Francisco and the NBA 2K25 Summer League in Las Vegas, James & Co. got a double dose of action. While there were ups and downs, the extended action proved beneficial for the 19-year-old.

After struggling to find his offensive groove in San Francisco, James hit an even tougher slump when things got going in Las Vegas. He broke out of the slump with a 12-point performance in a narrow win over the Hawks and came up big in a 13-point performance against the Cavaliers.

As James gears up for his rookie season in the NBA, what can we take from his first action in an NBA uniform? Here is a closer look at his performances, the story behind the numbers, and what they mean for both James and the Lakers moving forward.

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Bronny James takeaways

The defensive potential is real

It's not a far stretch to say that defense is James' most pro-ready skill.

When his offense wasn't there yet, James showed his ability to be a disruptor on the defensive end. While his 6-2 frame could be viewed as a hindrance to being impactful defensively, he makes up for it with his wingspan and impressive lateral quickness.

Reed Sheppard won the matchup overall, but James showed the potential of what he can be. As a player who has likened himself to Jrue Holiday, Davion Mitchell and Derrick White , James showed a willingness to do the dirty work. That's a start.

The quickest way for James to get on the court for the Lakers during the NBA season will be to defend, rebound and do the little things to help the team win games.

If James can defend at an NBA level, he can be a net positive on the floor for LA.

Offensive comfort will increase with time

It took some time for James to find his groove offensively. Over two games in San Francisco, James shot 3-of-12 from the field and missed all four of his 3-point attempts and scored a total of seven points.

James exceeded his San Francisco total in his Las Vegas debut, scoring eight points in a loss to the Rockets, though he failed to connect on all eight of his 3-point attempts in the game. The confidence to continue shooting was encouraging but at times James did not seem sure of himself on the offensive end.

The struggles continued in the second game in LAs Vegas, as he scored just two points on 1-of-5 shooting and his performance became even more of a national conversation .

But just when it seemed like he should be written off, James picked himself up off the mat to show out.

James turned a corner against the Hawks and looked much more comfortable as he shot 5-of-11 from the field — and, more importantly, saw his first 3-pointer go through the net as he shot 2-of-5 from distance. That carried over into what would be his summer finale, where he scored 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting in a win over the Cavaliers.

Not only was James efficient, but he was also clutch, as his late 3-pointer was part of a late 9-0 run to secure a Lakers win.

James' jumper looked good during the combine and, naturally, his 3-point shooting will be the swing skill to his offensive game. As a connective player, James will be expected to make smart cuts, smart passes and knock down open 3s when given the opportunity.

As his comfort grew, he showed an ability to do all of the above.

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Patience is crucial

This is true for James, the Lakers and basketball fans worldwide.

Name aside, James is not your typical 55th overall pick. When he took the floor for Summer League action, he was less than a year removed from suffering cardiac arrest, a life-altering event that threw him off of the typical path of development for a college freshman.

It's important to not lose sight of the fact that James is still playing catch-up in many respects. After not fully gaining an opportunity to learn the college game, James is now adjusting to the NBA game, which will eventually slow down for him.

Patience is important because James is on a four-year contract and his development and growth should be looked at in the bigger picture. He'll likely get important reps in the NBA G League as a rookie, which will ease him into being a professional.

Remember, James won't turn 20 until October and may not be done growing. He's far from a finished product.

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Bronny James summer league stats

Bronny James Summer League stats at Las Vegas

Bronny James Summer League stats at California Classic