The Los Angeles Lakers secured their first victory of 2024 in a tightly contested summer league game, edging out the Atlanta Hawks 87-86. The win marked the end of a five-game losing streak, offering a breath of fresh air to the Lakers' offseason endeavors.
Bronny James Shines Under Pressure
Rookie guard Bronny James was instrumental in the Lakers' victory, showcasing a notable improvement in his performance. Selected as the 55th overall pick in the 2024 draft, Bronny had a rocky start in the summer league, averaging just 4.3 points and missing all 15 of his three-point attempts in the first four games. However, his fortunes changed dramatically against the Hawks.
Bronny started the game confidently, sinking a 17-foot pull-up jumper and setting the tone for his breakout performance. He finished the game with 12 points, scoring nine in the first half. His shooting was far more efficient, making 5-of-11 field goal attempts, including 2-of-5 from beyond the arc. A critical highlight came late in the game when Bronny nailed a crucial three-pointer to tie the score, underscoring his resilience and growing maturity on the court.
Support from the Team and Family
Reflecting on his improved performance, Bronny credited his parents. "My mom, my dad really help me, encouraging me to stay focused and keep being myself. So I feel like that's a big part of how I came out [tonight]," he explained. His confidence and aggression were evident throughout the game as he continued to take shots despite previous struggles. "Just stay aggressive. Even though my shot hasn't been falling, just staying aggressive," he added.
Lakers' center Colin Castleton, who had a stellar game himself with 17 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, and two steals, spoke highly of Bronny’s progress. "I think he's stepping into a good role. It takes a little bit of time. He has a lot of pressure, a lot of things on him. So he has a great mindset. He's a great kid, great teammate, and we love being around him. Everybody in the organization loves being around him and he took great shots tonight and just got a good rhythm."
High Praise and Constructive Criticism
Bronny’s development has not gone unnoticed, with veteran players and critics alike weighing in. Jaylen Brown, who was captured in a social media post appearing to critique Bronny during the Lakers' earlier loss to the Boston Celtics, also offered praise. "It's a flex to have your son alongside you in the NBA. It reflects greatness and longevity! Bronny has all the tools around him to be successful. I look forward to watching his growth."
Rich Paul, renowned sports agent, defended Brown’s earlier comments. "You can't take everybody's opinion and try to turn it against him or think that he's a bad person. At least [Brown] is someone who is actually in the league. There's a lot of 'experts' with no expertise; he's actually an expert with expertise. So, if he has that opinion, he can have that opinion. I know Jaylen. I know he doesn't mean that with any malice. He was just having a conversation."
Coaching Strategies and Team Dynamics
Dane Johnson, a coach on the Lakers’ summer league team, emphasized the team's strategy of encouraging players to take open shots. "He had those same shots previously, and he just missed them. So, we're going to encourage him to keep taking those," Johnson stated. "If he's open and we have an open catch-and-shoot [shot], we want him to shoot those, along with everybody else. Open catch-and-shoot threes are what we're looking for. Even if you're not making them, believe in yourself, have confidence in yourself."
Bronny also talked about the unique experience of playing with family. "I feel like playing together [and] going to work together every day is just going to build on the relationship we already have. Build that connection, maybe even stronger. But I'm excited to get to work with my dad."
Looking Ahead
With this victory, the Lakers have two more games scheduled in Las Vegas against the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Chicago Bulls. It remains to be seen how Bronny and the rest of the Lakers will perform, but with their recent win and Bronny’s promising display, the team and its fans have newfound optimism.
The absence of key players, including the Hawks' top draft pick Zacharie Risacher and the Lakers' first-round pick Dalton Knecht, creates an interesting dynamic for the upcoming matchups. For the Lakers, the focus will continue to be on leveraging their young talent while building on this much-needed victory.