Bronny James is the marquee name in the California leg of NBA Summer League. After his first performance as a professional — a four-point, two-rebound, two-assist showing in a blowout loss to the Kings — one could understand fans feeling a bit underwhelmed.
His second bite at the NBA cherry — a date with the Heat — proved a similarly frustrating affair, at least on the offensive end, that is.
James netted just three points in Wednesday's contest, an 80-76 defeat to Miami. He was fairly reserved in his offensive exploits, receding into the background as the likes of Dalton Knecht (20 points) and Maxwell Lewis (14 points) served up impressive showings.
It was on the other side of the floor that James flourished. He swatted three Heat shots away while plucking Miami ball-handlers on two separate occasions. That not to mention the countless shots he altered with his mere presence.
The second-round pick was far from efficient. He attempted just three shots across 29 minutes of playtime. But his defensive outburst left no doubt that of James' productivity on that end of the floor. Perhaps that can earn him some reps at the NBA level when it's time for the real thing.
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How many points did Bronny James score today?
Here are James' stats at halftime of his NBA Summer League contest against the Heat.
- Minutes: 29
- Points: 3
- Rebounds: 5
- Assists: 3
- Steals: 2
- Blocks: 3
- TOs: 2
- Fouls: 0
- FG-FGA: 1-3
- 3P-3PA: 0-1
It was an uneven offensive showing for James in the first half. He made a pair of decent cuts to the basket, finishing over length with a reverse layup early in the first quarter and absorbing contact to draw a foul during the second frame. A three-point attempt rattled in-and-out for the Lakers rookie, who spent much of the 20 minutes playing off-ball to former St. Mary's guard Tommy Kahse.
James' true impact came on the other end for the floor, where he was relentless. He deflected multiple passes away during the frame and showcased his advanced skillset navigating screens and staying in front of opposition guards. Rarely did his matchups find space and time to put up uncontested shots when James was around.
Bronny James highlights vs. Warriors
James opened the game with a reverse layup over length, corralling Dalton Knecht's feed on the fast break to kick off his scoring for the day.
Bronny James finishes the reverse off the dish from Dalton Knecht 🔥
— NBA (@NBA) July 10, 2024
Lakers '24 draft class connection 🤝
LAL-MIA | California Classic on ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/gnAk3y1ghB
He really shined on the defensive end, however, ripping away his opposition marker's effort before flicking a pass to Colin Castleton to set up a chance at the free throw line.
You can’t teach Bronny’s defensive instincts… just an absolute MENACE as a defender 🔒 pic.twitter.com/xnS20rqu9t
— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) July 10, 2024
This section will be updated.
