After a very complicated start to the season with the Lakers, Bronny James found a smile again in the G-League, at the South Bay Lakers, with three games averaging 21 points and a still decent outing yesterday at the G-League Winter Showcase with 6 points on 3/7 shooting, 7 assists, 4 rebounds and an interception (but 6 turnovers) in 25 minutes to contribute to the victory of his team against the Osceola Magic (120-104).
As he gradually regains his bearings on the court, LeBron James' son briefly returned to the difficult stages which preceded his arrival in the NBA. The biggest difficulty was of course coming back from a cardiac arrest and then surgery to correct a congenital malformation, a physical but also mental challenge.
“I've learned to hang on after the last two years of battling injuries, mental issues, things like that. Just by coming to training, working every day and staying the course.”, he explained. “We have to try to get past that. It’s difficult, but I work on it every day.”
Grow at your own pace
There have been numerous pitfalls over the last six months, from his Draft to his debut in the NBA alongside his father, with all the media pressure that this event may have generated. Enough to understand his complicated beginnings in the NBA which do not necessarily make him a “bust”, as his last four games have reminded us.
“He has a lot of attention on him”recognized his South Bay Lakers teammate, Devonte' Graham. “He knows how to handle it. I think he’s been playing well lately.”
At 20 years old, Bronny James still has time ahead of him to progress, after coming so close to seeing his dream disappear for good, and simply enjoying doing his passion.
What is being said about him at the moment “goes in one ear and out the other”in the words of the main person concerned. As LeBron James explained a year ago, after his son returned to the court for the first time, Bronny “ has won in life, and everything else, at this point, is just a bonus.”
“I'm here every day, trying to progress, learn and play my game. And I feel like that's what gives me pleasure and having fun every day in this sport that I 'love “added Bronny James before recalling where he came back from. “My family, my parents are extremely grateful, not only that I can play basketball, but that I can just walk and talk to other people. It’s a blessing to be able to play the sport I love. There was a chance I wouldn't be able to do it anymore. So every day when I wake up, I’m grateful for that.”
| Bronny James | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2024-25 | LAL | 7 | 3 | 12.5 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| Total | 7 | 3 | 12.5 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.6 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
