Bronny James says he will accept any assignment in his first season as a professional as long as it provides him with the opportunity to play and enhance his basketball skills.
“I’m just looking forward to any basketball I play — no matter what level I’m playing at,” James said following the Los Angeles Lakers’ 99-80 loss to the Houston Rockets in their first game of the Las Vegas Summer League on Friday.
James was asked about the possibility of spending time in the G League after Houston’s Cam Whitmore — the Rockets’ No. 20 overall pick in the 2023 draft — finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals.
Whitmore averaged 26.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.1 steals in 13 games with Houston’s G League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, during his rookie season. After scoring six fast points to put Los Angeles up 13-10 midway through the first quarter against Houston, James struggled on offense the rest of the way, finishing with eight points on 3-for-14 shooting (0-for-8 from three) and three turnovers.
In three summer league games, including two in the California Classic, James is 6-for-26 (23.1%) and 0-for-12 from three. “I just feel like I’m in a little slump right now,” he stated. Dane Johnson, the Lakers’ summer league coach, dismissed James’ early offensive struggles.
“Shoot, he’s going to have a long career,” Johnson said. “This is just the beginning. We just keep instilling [confidence], keep that in their heads. So, we’ve got a long way to go.”
Johnson, who primarily coaches L.A.’s G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, was asked about James potentially spending time in the G League next season.
“I don’t know about that yet, so I can’t really comment on that,” Mr. Johnson replied. “But I think all these guys are going to be in the G League at some point — the draftees.” Dalton Knecht, an L.A. rookie selected with the 17th pick, led the Lakers with 25 points on 9-for-18 shooting (5-for-11 from three), 6 rebounds, and 4 assists versus Houston.
James’ embrace of the G League was a shift from the messaging shared by his agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, leading up to the draft. Paul told ESPN’s Jonathan Givony that he informed teams he had no interest in his client joining any NBA franchise on a two-way contract.
“I got the word out early to teams that if you plan on bringing Bronny in, here’s what you need to know: If you won’t give him a real deal, there’s nothing to talk about,” Paul told ESPN. “It’s hard to get real development on a two-way deal.”
However, James continued to play aggressive defense in the Houston game. He had two steals, bringing his total to five in the summer league so far, and frequently covered Rockets rookie Reed Sheppard, the third selection in the draft, the full length of the court.
“I’ve known Reed since fifth grade,” James said. “I know he’s a shooter, so I was just trying to get in his body and prevent those 3-balls from going up. I was trying to pick him up full court and showing my effort to the GM and coaches.”
Indeed, Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka was sitting courtside, along with coach JJ Redick and his two new assistants — Scott Brooks and Nate McMillan. Greg St. Jean — who is in the process of being added to Redick’s staff, sources told ESPN — was in attendance too. Sheppard scored 23 points on 9-for-17 shooting (4-for-6 from 3) with five assists and four turnovers. Redick joined ESPN’s broadcast of the Lakers-Rockets game and told Mark Jones and Doris Burke that James has been “terrific” thus far. The coach complimented the 19-year-old’s defensive flashes.
“We want him to pressure the ball,” Redick stated. “I told him yesterday, ‘If you get blown by, if you get 10 fouls, that’s on me. I want you to put pressure on the ball.”
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