PALM DESERT, Calif. — Nearly a year after his preseason debut in the same desert arena, Bronny James resumed his effort to prove he belongs in the NBA. While his 1-for-12 shooting performance was not ideal, both James and his coach, JJ Redick, viewed Friday’s game as another step forward in his development.
James finished with eight points in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 103-81 exhibition loss to the Phoenix Suns. With stars LeBron James and Luka Doncic sitting out, younger players received significant minutes. The elder James, 40, is progressing cautiously from a minor nerve injury ahead of his record 23rd season, while Doncic is ramping up slowly after a busy summer playing for Slovenia at EuroBasket.
The extended playing time gave Bronny James, who played nearly 24 minutes, an opportunity to showcase his growth. He hit one three-pointer late in the third quarter for his only field goal and missed his other seven attempts from beyond the arc.
“I felt like they were pretty good shots,” said James, who turns 21 on Monday. “Not rushed, not forcing anything. Didn’t have my legs under me as much as I wanted to, so a lot of them were short, but most of them were on line.”
Despite the shooting struggles, Redick praised James’s progress over the past year, attributing much of it to his time in the G League, where he averaged 21.9 points and 5.5 assists last season.
“He is so much more comfortable and confident as a player,” Redick said. “Skill-wise, read-wise, all of those things have improved… He’s a totally different player than he was a year ago. I thought the stuff that he did down in the G League last year was huge for him.”
James echoed his coach’s sentiment, noting an increased comfort level with the team’s offensive and defensive schemes while emphasizing his focus on consistent effort. “I’m just trying to feel it out, feeling my way still and just continuing to grow,” he said.
Austin Reaves led the Lakers’ starters with 20 points. Newcomer Deandre Ayton focused on his defensive role, finishing with eight rebounds and two blocks in 18 minutes.
With LeBron James and Luka Doncic also slated to miss Sunday’s preseason game against the Golden State Warriors, Bronny James will get another chance to make his case. “There’s probably not going to be as many opportunities during the season,” he said, “so I’m just coming out and defending hard, playing my game… if JJ sees that, maybe he’ll give me an opportunity.”
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