The Los Angeles Lakers opened up their preseason schedule for the 2024-25 NBA season against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday evening. Los Angeles dropped the game by a score of 124-107.
Lakers stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis didn’t play in the game, leaving the other players to step up. Los Angeles trailed for the majority of the game, making it a tough contest overall.
Rookie guard Bronny James made his debut for the Lakers, and all eyes were on how he performed. While the hype around Bronny was massive, the guard underwhelmed a little bit.
He scored just two points on 1-of-6 shooting from the field, going 0-of-1 from beyond the 3-point line. In 16 minutes of game action, Bronny also registered one rebound and one assist.
It was a tough game for the young guard, but most people shouldn’t be too shocked by it. Bronny struggled during the Summer League but did flash some strong defensive instincts while on the court.
Those showed up once again in this preseason game as he registered three blocks while on the floor. He was able to disrupt the opponents on defense, a skill that the Lakers valued when they drafted him.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick weighed in on the performance of Bronny from this content. He made sure to note the defensive performance that the young player put on.
“He can do some things defensively at his size that are really unique, and I think can turn into a really disruptive defender,” Redick said. “That manifested itself. On the offensive end, he’s still figuring out who he is. That’s our job as a player development program just to build him in.”
“But truthfully, he’s so easy to coach. He’s got a great soul and just a great energy about him. I like being around him. I’m rooting for him. He’s a good player that we’re happy to have in our program.”
Bronny will likely spend the majority of the season in the G-League, which will give him time to improve his overall game. However, the Lakers believe that he can become an impactful member of the team as time goes on.
Patience will be the key with Los Angeles as Bronny develops into a more complete NBA player. If they can give him the time he needs, the franchise could reap the benefits down the line.
For more Lakers news, make sure to head over to Newsweek Sports.
The post Lakers News: How Did Bronny James Look in Pro Debut? appeared first on Newsweek.
