Scouts: Bronny James needs to improve point guard play
James and Maxwell Lewis were recalled by the Lakers from South Bay on Sunday with the expectation that they will be uniform for the Lakers’ home date Monday against Detroit. The unanimous view I heard from watching scouts at the Showcase is that James needs as much time as he can get in the G League to improve all aspects of his point guard play, from his floor game to (especially) his ability to make shots.Source: marcstein.substack.com What’s the buzz on Twitter? Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynolds Bronny James discusses the challenge of dealing with his mental health following cardiac scare apnews.com/article/bronny… – 11:06 PM Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynolds Bronny James discusses the challenge of dealing with his mental health following cardiac scare apnews.com/article/bronny… – 4:28 PM Mike Vorkunov @MikeVorkunov The NBA allowed fans into the G League Showcase today (I think for the first time). Coincidentally, it’s the same day Bronny James is playing. Two games going right now. Can you guess which is South Bay Lakers vs. Osceola Magic and which is Stockton Kings vs. Capital City Go-Go pic.x.com/NaoiG06CDF – 12:19 PM More on this storyline Based on James’ other G League performances, these two games were not outliers. James drew attention earlier this month by scoring 30 points in a G League game against the Valley Suns, but that was far and away his best outing. In his other seven games at this level, he’s shot just 24 of 76 with an alarming turnover rate. No, we don’t have this level of scrutiny for other late second-round round picks, many of whom have struggled just as badly or worse in their first two G League seasons (*cough* Maxwell Lewis *cough*). At least three players drafted ahead of James have been demonstrably worse in their G League minutes this season, and several others have failed to distinguish themselves as notably better. -via New York Times / December 22, 2024 Unfortunately, that didn’t offset the other areas in which he fell short. Generally a player ready to contribute at the NBA level will cook G League defenses pretty easily, especially an aspiring guard. James’ South Bay teammate Devonte’ Graham, for instance, rolled in off his couch and scored 24 on Saturday after going unsigned following his 2023-24 season in San Antonio. For James, that did not happen. He struggled to control his dribble at several points, a red flag for a small guard who is listed at 6-foot-3. In Saturday’s second half, he committed the holy trinity of turnovers trying to bring the ball up against pressure, getting his dribble picked on one trip, failing to clear the backcourt in eight seconds on another and wandering back into the backcourt on a third. Asking him to play the point feels like a complete non-starter. -via New York Times / December 22, 2024 In what is perhaps a related story, fatigue seemed to be a real issue for him in both games, especially after a few minutes on the court. It was only two games, but watching him here, it sure seemed like he’d start each stint on the court with two or three good minutes, and then his glitch rate would go through the roof soon after. -via New York Times / December 22, 2024
James and Maxwell Lewis were recalled by the Lakers from South Bay on Sunday with the expectation that they will be uniform for the Lakers’ home date Monday against Detroit. The unanimous view I heard from watching scouts at the Showcase is that James needs as much time as he can get in the G League to improve all aspects of his point guard play, from his floor game to (especially) his ability to make shots.
Source: marcstein.substack.com
Source: marcstein.substack.com
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynolds
Bronny James discusses the challenge of dealing with his mental health following cardiac scare apnews.com/article/bronny… – 11:06 PM
Bronny James discusses the challenge of dealing with his mental health following cardiac scare apnews.com/article/bronny… – 11:06 PM
Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynolds
Bronny James discusses the challenge of dealing with his mental health following cardiac scare apnews.com/article/bronny… – 4:28 PM
Bronny James discusses the challenge of dealing with his mental health following cardiac scare apnews.com/article/bronny… – 4:28 PM
Mike Vorkunov @MikeVorkunov
The NBA allowed fans into the G League Showcase today (I think for the first time). Coincidentally, it’s the same day Bronny James is playing. Two games going right now. Can you guess which is South Bay Lakers vs. Osceola Magic and which is Stockton Kings vs. Capital City Go-Go pic.x.com/NaoiG06CDF – 12:19 PM
The NBA allowed fans into the G League Showcase today (I think for the first time). Coincidentally, it’s the same day Bronny James is playing. Two games going right now. Can you guess which is South Bay Lakers vs. Osceola Magic and which is Stockton Kings vs. Capital City Go-Go pic.x.com/NaoiG06CDF – 12:19 PM
More on this storyline
Based on James’ other G League performances, these two games were not outliers. James drew attention earlier this month by scoring 30 points in a G League game against the Valley Suns, but that was far and away his best outing. In his other seven games at this level, he’s shot just 24 of 76 with an alarming turnover rate. No, we don’t have this level of scrutiny for other late second-round round picks, many of whom have struggled just as badly or worse in their first two G League seasons (*cough* Maxwell Lewis *cough*). At least three players drafted ahead of James have been demonstrably worse in their G League minutes this season, and several others have failed to distinguish themselves as notably better. -via New York Times / December 22, 2024
Unfortunately, that didn’t offset the other areas in which he fell short. Generally a player ready to contribute at the NBA level will cook G League defenses pretty easily, especially an aspiring guard. James’ South Bay teammate Devonte’ Graham, for instance, rolled in off his couch and scored 24 on Saturday after going unsigned following his 2023-24 season in San Antonio. For James, that did not happen. He struggled to control his dribble at several points, a red flag for a small guard who is listed at 6-foot-3. In Saturday’s second half, he committed the holy trinity of turnovers trying to bring the ball up against pressure, getting his dribble picked on one trip, failing to clear the backcourt in eight seconds on another and wandering back into the backcourt on a third. Asking him to play the point feels like a complete non-starter. -via New York Times / December 22, 2024
In what is perhaps a related story, fatigue seemed to be a real issue for him in both games, especially after a few minutes on the court. It was only two games, but watching him here, it sure seemed like he’d start each stint on the court with two or three good minutes, and then his glitch rate would go through the roof soon after. -via New York Times / December 22, 2024
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