"Doesn't matter if he doesn't play well": LeBron James' lowers the bar on Bronny James' Summer League expectations citing one reason
LeBron James shared his expectations for Bronny James for the 2024 NBA Summer League. Bronny already played his first game in the California Classic Summer League with the Lakers, dropping four points against the Sacramento Kings in a blowout loss.
The four-time NBA champion lowered the bar on the expectations for his firstborn, explaining that he wants Bronny to get more reps and more experience going against other pros, watching film and practicing to continue his growth.
“I just hope for him to get his feet wet in the NBA, the pace of the game, the speed of the game, the physicality of the game," James, speaking to reporters including Sportskeeda's Mark Medina, said.
"But what he does in the California Classic and Summer League, it doesn't matter if he plays well and it doesn't matter if he doesn't play well. I just want him to continue to grow. Practices, film sessions, his individual workouts."
James also pointed out that it's difficult to make conclusions based on Summer League statistics. He also brought up the fact that Bronny is still working his way back from the cardiac arrest he suffered last year in college.
How did Bronny James fare in his first California Classic Summer League game?
Bronny James made his California Classic Summer League debut today, playing 21 minutes for the Lakers. The young guard didn't have the best game from a scoring standpoint, scoring just four points and making two of his nine attempts during the game.
He attempted three 3-point shots and missed them, as well as his only two free throws. James grabbed two rebounds and assisted his teammates twice to finish the game with a -15 plus-minus.
The former USC player showed that he still has work to do. LeBron made it clear that they are working to get him in the right shape when the league starts and his numbers in the Summer League won't matter that much in a couple of months.
Bronny James will play his second game in the California Classic tomorrow against the Golden State Warriors at 6:30 p.m. ET.