Bronny James’ sophomore year in the pros is off to a rather chilly start.
LeBron James’ son shot 1-for-12, including 1-for-8 from 3, and tallied eight points in the Lakers’ 103-81 loss to the Suns in their preseason opener Friday night.
Bronny finished with a minus-12 rating in 24 minutes, while adding five rebounds and two assists.
“I felt like they were pretty good shots there,” Bronny said. “Wasn’t rushed, wasn’t 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 and I felt like I could have made those. I think I took some good shots.”
Bronny, who turns 21 on Monday, is preparing for his second season in the NBA after a lackluster first campaign.
Some questioned his NBA readiness after one lackluster year at USC, which included him recovering from cardiac arrest, yet the Lakers selected him in the second round with the No. 55 pick.
The father-son duo made history by playing together in the Laker’s season opener against the Timberwolves last Oct. 22, but he otherwise had a forgettable season.
Bronny averaged 2.3 points on 31.3 percent shooting, including 28.1 percent from deep, while adding 0.8 assists and 0.7 rebounds in 6.7 minutes across 27 games.
He played much better for the team’s G League squad, tallying 21.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game.
Both the player and the team surely hope he can provide more meaningful contributions as a reserve this year in what could be his father’s last season in the NBA.
Lakers coach JJ Redick said Bronny will need to be an “impact defender” to help the Lakers this year.
“He is so much more comfortable and confident as a player,” Redick said before the game. “Skill-wise, read-wise, all of those things have improved, but there’s a big difference between improving those things in individual workouts and small-group settings, and then doing it 5-on-5.
“I’ve just felt like all of September, and in our first three days of camp, he just looks more comfortable — 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 in just developing a comfort level with playing at this level.”
Bronny received a long look Friday night since his father and Lakers superstar Luka Doncic both did not play, and he entered the contest as a reserve.
While he did not shoot well, he managed five points from the free throw line.
“I’m just trying to feel it out, trying to get some reps in with the guys,” Bronny said, per ESPN.
“There’s probably not going to be as many opportunities during the season, so I’m just coming out and defending hard, playing my game, doing the non-negotiables. So if JJ sees that, maybe he’ll give me an opportunity.”