Bronny James can’t wait to hit the ground running with his father on the Lakers next season amid his best performance yet in purple and gold.
The 19-year-old guard scored 12 points against the Hawks on Wednesday in the NBA Summer League, only two days after Jaylen Brown’s disparaging comments on his talent, as LA won its first game of the competition with his help. Bronny also made his first career three-pointer against Atlanta.
Clearly buzzing after the game, LeBron’s eldest son was asked about his relationship with his father ‘evolving on and off the court’ in the coming months, now that they are teammates.
‘It’s a big step for both of us. I feel like playing together, going to work together every day is just gonna build on the relationship we already have, build that connection maybe even stronger. I’m excited to get to work about that,’ Bronny said.
The reporter then asked the rookie: ‘What are you looking forward to the most?’
Bronny James was buzzing after scoring his best point tally for the Lakers so far this summer
The guard is ‘excited’ to see his relationship with his dad, LeBron, evolve on and off the court
‘Going against each other at practice,’ Bronny replied with a grin on his face.
NBA fans couldn’t help but to laugh at Bronny’s post-game comments later on social media.
‘Brother your dad is the best player of all time,’ an X user replied.
‘Bro thinks he has a chance against his dad,’ another person said, while someone else pointed that Bronny is ‘competitive like his father.’
Bronny James made four of his first five shots against Atlanta, including his first 3-pointer of the summer on his 17th attempt. He finished 5 for 11 from the field, 2 for 5 from 3-point range.
Bronny also made his first ever career three-pointer against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday
The shooting was a major improvement. James entered Wednesday 7 for 31 from the field this summer and 4 for 19 in his two games at Las Vegas.
For the summer – now three games in Las Vegas, plus two others earlier this month at the California Classic in San Francisco – the No. 55 overall pick in this year’s draft is averaging 5.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.2 steals per game on 29 percent shooting.
Bronny James averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game last season in his lone year of college basketball at Southern California, appearing in the team’s final 25 games.
He wasn’t able to start the season after needing a procedure to fix what was diagnosed as a congenital heart defect, which was found after he went into cardiac arrest during a workout last summer.