Bronny James it didn’t seem ready for the NBA after averaging only 4.8 points per game on 36.6% shooting from the field in his only year at USC. He also didn’t seem prepared during the Las Vegas Summer League, where he averaged 8.8 points on 35.0% shooting.
It shouldn’t be a big surprise then that Bronny is struggling mightily through his first three preseason games with the Lakers.
In just under 12 minutes per game, LeBron’s son is averaging less than a point. Only He has made one of his 11 field goal attempts. Bronny had a great moment sharing the court with LeBron and will have another during the Lakers’ first regular season game, but It is clear that he is not yet an NBA caliber player.
Here’s what we’ve seen from Bronny so far.
More | NBA Awards Predictions 2024-2025
Why Bronny James has been the worst NBA player in the preseason
Bronny James is struggling to score
Bronny’s ideal role in the NBA is that of a 3-D player who can also do some secondary playmaking in a pinch. He has been compared to guards such as Derrick White, Jrue Holiday and Davion Mitchell.
The problem with that comparison is that Bronny hasn’t shown the ability to shoot the three-pointer consistently. He’s been good in drills, but when it comes to actual games, he’s 0-4 from long range in the preseason. He was just 3-for-19 in the Las Vegas Summer League and 16-for-60 in college, so this has been a constant problem.
Bronny’s finishing at the rim has also been problematic. His 40.5-inch vertical was one of the best in the draft, but at 6-foot-9 without shoes, he has had trouble getting past bigger defenders in the preseason.
Bronny hasn’t had the touch on his float to avoid those big men. His only success came in a mediocre game in the final minute, when the Lakers faced a 20-point deficit.
Bronny’s playmaking has also been bad. He has recorded an assist, a basic pass to the corner in transition. He has lost the ball five times. Among them, two lazy passes, one of them in a basic entry. His dribble was taken at the baseline, he committed steps and set an illegal screen.
All of those errors have occurred in less than 36 minutes of total play, which is worrying.
Bronny James has had some good defensive plays
As tough as Bronny’s offense has been, he has shown some defensive potential. He has blocked three balls so far, proving that the defensive comparison with White makes sense.
Bronny has been good at moving his feet and staying in front of his man. He did very well in the Summer League. He earned praise from top defender Anthony Davis on Spectrum SportsNet’s postgame show.
“It’s hard”Davis said. “Obviously, he’s defensive-minded, some great blocks. And the physicality with which he beats screens. He’s good with his hands with deflections and steals“.
“Also keep learning”Davis continued. “He’s still trying to understand everything. We have to realize that“, he added.
Bronny James seems lost on the field
Aside from his traditional stats, which are damning, Bronny simply hasn’t contributed anything on the court.
Los Lakers have been outscored by 40 points in his 36 minutes, giving him the worst +/- of all 494 NBA players to log preseason minutes so far.
That horrendous +/- is not entirely your fault. He has been sharing minutes with other young players who haven’t done much. But he has been a contributing factor to the team’s 1-2 record, taking them out of games and making too many mistakes.
Of course, that’s what the preseason is for. The fact that you make mistakes is not a big problem. Yes it will be during the regular season, so Bronny is destined to play a lot in the G League.
Bronny is a talented prospect who had a first-round grade coming out of high school and performed well in draft selection exercises. The fact that he struggled in the preseason doesn’t stop him from becoming a good NBA player one day. But it is clear that he is not ready for the league yet.
