Bronny James' G League season was a success; rookie showed growth and promise
Bronny James' G League season was a success; rookie showed growth and promise
Show Caption
Hide Caption
How real are the Lakers as NBA title contenders?
The Lakers have been on a roll since trading for Luka Doncic, but are they good enough to win a championship?
From the start to the end of the G League season, rookie Bronny James improved.
And James, the 55th pick by the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round of the 2024 NBA draft, proved his worth as a G League player and potential everyday NBA player.
That was precisely the objective for James, the 20-year-old son of Lakers star LeBron James.
Considering where and how he started and where he is finishing – the G League South Bay Lakers' season is over – with the chance to get playing time with the Los Angeles Lakers in the final two weeks of the NBA regular season, Bronny James' rookie season was a success filled with growth and promise under a hypercritical spotlight typically not directed at a late second-round pick.
'It was obvious to me from the moment I started spending time with him on the court this summer, he was certainly going to be an NBA player, and I still believe that. He'll be an NBA player,' Lakers coach JJ Redick said after a March 20 game against Milwaukee in which Bronny James scored 17 points, his highest output in an NBA game.
On March 24, James posted a career G-League high 39 points on super-efficient 14-for-21 shooting, including 4-for-8 on 3-pointers, plus seven rebounds, four assists and four steals in a victory against Santa Cruz.
'The biggest area of improvement is probably just his playmaking, and I don't mean that just in terms of passing,' Redick said. 'But just his ability to play on and off the ball as a decision-maker, either a scorer or a passer. And with that, his confidence level and level of aggression has grown. For a young player, those are two really important things.'
For his 18-game G League season, he averaged 18.6 points, 4.8 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.7 steals and shot 41.6% from the field, 33.6% on 3-pointers and 76.9% on free throws. Of the 374 players who appeared in at least 18 G League games, James was 43rd in scoring and was one of nine players to average at least 18 points, 4.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds.
Here are G League stats of other players drafted in the second round last year (stats through Monday's games):
Cam Christie, 46th pick: 16.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.0 steals, 40.2% field goal shooting, 30.2% 3-point shooting, 80.5% free throw shooting in 40 games.
Antonio Reeves, 47th pick: 24.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.4 steals, 47% field goal shooting, 41.6% 3-point shooting, 80% free throw shooting in 11 games.
Tristen Newton, 49th pick: 16.5 points, 6.7 assists, 6.3 rebounds, 1.8 steals, 40.5% field goal shooting, 33.9% 3-point shooting, 76.7% free throw shooting in 34 games.
Anton Watson, 54th pick: 12.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 44.1% field goal shooting, 31.9% 3-point shooting, 65.1% free throw shooting in 37 games
Cam Spencer, 53rd pick: 23.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.0 steals, 53.8% field goal shooting, 49.3% 3-point shooting, 76.5% free throw shooting in eight games.
Kevin McCullar Jr., 56th pick: 11.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.7 steals, 39.3% field goal, 22.2% 3-point shooting, 78.8% free throw shooting in 13 games.
A holistic approach is required when examining James' 2024-25 season spent in the G League and the NBA. When he was drafted in June, he was just 11 months removed from sudden cardiac arrest while working out on USC's campus the summer before his freshman season for the Trojans.
To work through the mental and physical challenges of a life-threatening medical event and get back to the player he was on track to become – which was a first-round pick – time was also a necessity.
Outside James, his family, his representation and the Lakers, patience was in short supply, and critics pounced immediately after James' entry into pro basketball didn't yield the kind of production that screamed 'He's an NBA player.'
In his first two G League games, he was 4-for-19 from the field and 0-for-6 on 3-pointers, and he didn't play much for the NBA's Lakers. But he finished strong. He scored at least 30 points three times in the G League and showed potential as a scorer, shooter and playmaker. In his final nine G League games, he has improved on his season averages: 22.6 points, 5.3 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game while shooting 44.7% from the field, 36.7% on 3s and 82.6% on free throws.
He has limited NBA playing time but his 17-point, five-assist, three-rebound performance against Milwaukee revealed what's possible.
'His confidence is growing,' Redick said. 'You mentioned the word comfort. That's certainly there for him, and the next step is just becoming like an elite, conditioned athlete because when he does that with his physical tools and just like his burst and his handle, we think he's going to be an above-average to a really good NBA shooter. He's going to have a chance to really make an impact.'
The plan was to develop James into an everyday NBA player over the course of multiple seasons, which is not unusual for a second-round pick.
'Just putting my head down and working,' Bronny James told reporters. 'I feel like that's the only thing that I can control right now – going in every day and staying ready to play, staying ready to learn. Getting the work in after hours, early mornings, stuff like that.
"Just all the controllables that I can do myself. There's not really much I can do of people, random people, talking about me every day. So I can't really do much about that. So I just go in the gym and work, put my head down and try to get better every day.'
Through intense scrutiny – and not because of anything he did – that included a verbal feud between his dad and ESPN's Stephen A. Smith, Bronny James has proven himself worthy of a second-round pick and a more-than-capable G League pro with the possibility of developing into an everyday NBA player.
'Since day one, I've just been impressed with the person that he is and to deal with the (expletive) because of who his dad is and just keep a level head about it and be a class act says a lot about him, says a lot about that family and the way LeBron and Savannah have raised him,' Redick said.
Follow NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on social media @JeffZillgitt
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indianapolis Star
35 minutes ago
- Indianapolis Star
Tyrese Haliburton said his game will have 'ebbs and flows' but remains focused on winning NBA Finals
"The commentary is what it is at this point," Haliburton said. "We're here, in the NBA Finals, two wins away from an NBA championship." Dustin Dopirak and Nate Chute Tyrese Haliburton discusses the Pacers' Game 3 win over the Thunder Andrew Nembhard discusses the Pacers' Game 3 win over the Thunder Aaron Nesmith discusses the Pacers' Game 3 win over the Thunder. Pascal Siakam discusses the Pacers' Game 3 NBA Finals win over the Thunder
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Thunder vs. Pacers NBA Finals: Indiana does what it does best to defend its home court
INDIANAPOLIS — The last time the Indiana Pacers pulled to within two games of an NBA championship, it was a stay of execution, delaying the inevitable celebration for the Los Angeles Lakers — the league's brewing dynasty. It was a show for the home crowd 25 years ago, almost an apology for blowing a winnable Game 4 days earlier. Advertisement These Pacers pulled to within two wins of a title Wednesday because they executed at every margin, putting spackle on every hole and imperfection, and, more importantly, stopped treating the Oklahoma City Thunder like the dynasty they could become. Perhaps this is just a delay, the Pacers defending home court in what feels like an upset, with a dominant fourth quarter on the way to a 116-107 win in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. Because how do they keep doing this? The Thunder had their graduation in the second round, knocking off the wounded but prideful Nikola Jokić-led Denver Nuggets, and everything since was supposed to be a coronation for the franchise that built things the right way. Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton goes to the hole against Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander during the second half of Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) The Pacers were supposed to be a nuisance, and not even the shocker in Game 1 had changed anyone's mind. It was written off as an anomaly, the Thunder taking their foot off the gas and being caught by a Pacers team many believe to be a level below Oklahoma City, talent-wise. Advertisement The Thunder's defense is historic, both in numbers and eye test, but somehow the Pacers figured out their best friends are their endurance and an energetic crowd. The Thunder are young, buoyed by players mature beyond their years and pretty developed physically, yet they were the ones who were tugging their shorts in the fourth quarter, gasping for air. Maybe it took the Pacers three games to figure out waiting for a great shot means dribbling into a turnover or a bad shot — and they instead let it fly, efficiency be damned. Tyrese Haliburton, welcome to the NBA Finals. He was a special guest star in Oklahoma City, but he's a full cast member now. He refused to wait for the cadre of Thunder defenders to load up on him, and for once, took the game to them — along with being aggressive on defense. 'This is a defense that you can't consistently give them the same look,' Haliburton said. 'If you try to hold the ball and call for screens, they crawl into you and pack the paint. It's not easy. It's really tough. That's why they are such a historical defense. They do such a great job of that. You just have to continue to give them different looks as much as you can.' Advertisement Haliburton came close to a triple-double with 22 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds, but his effect went well beyond the tangible. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle bristles at the notion Haliburton should turn into some unabashed chucker, probably because he knows so many observers are watching his team intensely and intently for the first time all year, and he will remind anyone, at any time, its depth carries it as much as one star. 'I thought his approach tonight was exactly what it need to be,' Carlisle said. 'A combination of spatial awareness and aggression, and, you know, a real good feel for aggression to score along with getting his teammates involved at the right times.' Haliburton was helping to hound Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, whom the Pacers were way too reverential to in Oklahoma City. They defended him as if they'd be called for a foul just for breathing near him, and to be fair, they weren't wrong. But they at least made him think and consider some consequences — like Thomas Bryant earning an actual foul by grabbing his arm when the MVP caught him in one of those precarious positions that results in unflattering chants and trips to the foul line. Advertisement Gilgeous-Alexander had a traveling violation and some rare errant passes as part of his six-turnover performance, which hasn't happened often in his sterling playoffs. The terms the Pacers have to win on start with being physical and end with being fast. They found themselves on the brink of letting this game, this series, slip away so many times, and then a defibrillator would shock the system: T.J. McConnell doing his best Matthew Dellavedova impression from 10 years ago, minus the driving-at-legs part, with steals in the backcourt and passes knocked away from unsuspecting Thunder players. 'You guys know he's definitely a crowd favorite,' Haliburton said. 'I joke with him. I call him the 'Great White Hope.' He does a great job of bringing energy in this building. And I think people feed off that.' McConnell certainly gave the crowd plenty to cheer about with the first 10-point, 5-assist, 5-steal performance from a reserve in NBA Finals history. Advertisement 'We need all of our guys to bring whatever is their thing to our thing and have it be part of our thing, you know,' Carlisle said. 'But [McConnell's] a guy that inspires a lot of people. He inspires our team a lot.' Then there's Bennedict Mathurin, having the game of his life and not acting like it was at all a surprise. In Game 1, he was pulled after an early turnover during that sloppy first half (19 Pacers turnovers). In Game 3, he was decisive, and if you gave him any space, he was taking a midrange jumper. It didn't matter if it's supposed to be a great shot or not, because damn it, it was an available one, and the Pacers needed every one of Mathurin's 27 points off the bench. That's how they keep doing this. Advertisement The Thunder seemed to have an endless supply of good players, productive ones who'd pop up and do something impactful at a given moment in the Western Conference finals. But for some reason, in a track meet no less, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault only ran with seven for most of the night — with usual starter Isaiah Hartenstein playing just 18 minutes. Think about all the Pacers survived in this one. The Thunder getting off to a crowd-quieting 15-6 start. Starting center Myles Turner being under the weather, which wasn't revealed until after the game, but something was evident in watching Chet Holmgren beat him up and down the floor repeatedly for buckets in the opening minutes. Jalen Williams finally had a game after a shaky start, scoring 26 and bullying defenders on the way there. OKC's Big 3 showed up, combining for 70 points, but it didn't matter after 48 minutes. The Pacers' slim halftime lead built by the bench dissipated in 90 seconds. The lead they regained again slipped through their grasp to close the quarter, trailing by five. Advertisement Make no mistake, this was the series for Indiana. Losing this, in front of this rabid home crowd, would've sapped any optimism for Friday's Game 4, and all would've been lost. 'These guys see where important things are important, and hard things are hard,' said Carlisle, using the phrase that has become a mantra of his. The Pacers have chosen their hard just by getting here, and they don't plan on stopping now.
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Pacers' bench responsible for NBA Finals Game 3 win: 'We need everybody to be ready'
Pacers' bench responsible for NBA Finals Game 3 win: 'We need everybody to be ready' Show Caption Hide Caption Shaq talks NBA Finals matchup and NBA on TNT Shaquille O'Neal joins Sports Seriously to talk about all things NBA and his upcoming Netflix docu-series 'Power Moves'. Sports Seriously INDIANAPOLIS – T.J. McConnell could walk through any city in America – except Indianapolis – and no one save the most diehard NBA fan would recognize him as a professional basketball player in the best league in the world. Make no mistake, McConnell is a paid professional. McConnell, the Indiana Pacers' 6-foot-1 reserve guard, did what no player in NBA Finals history has done since steals and blocks became an official stat in 1973-74: he is the first reserve to have at least 10 points, five steals and five assists in a Finals game. Indiana's bench stole Game 3, helping the Pacers to a 116-107 victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, June 11, pushing the Pacers to a 2-1 series lead. A 10-year veteran, McConnell was a major part of a massive Pacers' bench effort that reshaped the tone of the series, scoring 10 points, delivering five assists and collecting five steals. Bennedict Mathurin scored a game-high 27 points in 22 minutes off bench, dropping in 14 points in the second quarter when the Pacers' bench asserted itself and prevented Oklahoma City from establishing control of the game, and Obi Toppin had eight points, six rebounds and two blocks off the bench. Indiana's bench outscored the Thunder's 49-18, and had more rebounds (13-1), assists (7-6), blocks (3-0) and steals (7-3). 'Those guys were tremendous,' Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. 'T.J. just brought a will, competitive will to the game. Mathurin jumped in there and immediately was aggressive and got the ball in the basket. 'This is the kind of team that we are. We need everybody to be ready. It's not always going to be exactly the same guys that are stepping up with scoring and stuff like that. But this is how we got to do it, and we got to do it as a team.' Much discussion has been given to Oklahoma City's depth and for good reason. But the Pacers have depth, too, going 10 deep and nine players played at least 15 minutes in Game 3. McConnell's first steal came on an OKC in-bounds pass after a Pascal Siakam layup. Here was McConnell's sequence in a six-second span: assist, steal, offensive rebound, assist. Three of his steals came on Thunder in-bounds passes, including a steal and layup that tied the score at 95-95 with 8:35 remaining. 'In a series like this what's so important is the margins. You have to win in the margins,' Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton said. 'It's not necessarily who can make the most shots or anything. It's taking care of the ball, rebounding, little things like that. He does a great job of giving us energy plays consistently and getting downhill and operating. Nobody operates on the baseline like that guy. He does a great job of consistently getting there and making hustle play after hustle play.' Mathurin, 22, was injured last year during Indiana's run to the Eastern Conference finals, but Carlisle said, 'He was with the team. He just wasn't playing. He took a lot of notes, a lot of mental notes, and he may have written some things down. He's putting (in) a lot of work to be ready for these moments, and tonight he was an absolute major factor.' His scoring is down in the playoffs compared to the regular season, but he has scored at least 20 points in four games. His first-half offensive production was necessary and his points in the second half either extended Indiana's lead or cut into a deficit at a critical time. They were important buckets. Mathurin is the youngest player to score 25 or more points off the bench in a Finals game since starters and bench players were first tracked in 1970-71. 'He's had games like this in previous series. He seems to have a game like this in every series. He's a talented player,' Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. 'He was really aggressive tonight. He did a great job. … Their bench really came in the game and was excellent.' The Pacers had their best start-to-finish game of the series. Haliburton had 22 points, 11 assists, nine rebounds and two steals, producing his game against the Thunder. Indiana needed that from him. But the Pacers don't win Game 3 without their bench play. And they will need that again at some point if they want to win two more games and earn the franchise's first NBA championship since they left the ABA in 1976.
