"I feel like I'm in a little slump right now": Bronny James admits being out of form in Summer League debut
LA Lakers rookie Bronny James has not had the greatest of starts to his career with the Purple and Gold. The No. 55 pick from this year's draft class had a forgettable Summer League debut as he ended with just eight points.
He struggled to land his shots, going 3-14 from the field and 0-8 from beyond the arc in 27 minutes of action. This comes on the back of a subpar California Classic outing earlier.
Per ESPN's Dave McMenamin, James acknowledged that he was struggling with his offense.
"I feel like I'm in a little slump right now"
James' first two appearances at the California Classic didn't have eye-popping stats. He shot 3-12 from the floor, 1-4 from the foul line, and went 0-4 on 3-pointers.
He averaged 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.5 blocks in 25 minutes per game in those two skirmishes. While there was no doubt about his defensive potential, the scoring front needs massive improvement.
Bronny James commits to constantly improving as a ball player, irrespective of the level he plays at
In the same interview with McMenamin, Bronny James was a picture of optimism when he said he was looking forward to improving given his recent struggles.
"I'm just looking forward to any basketball I play -- no matter what level I'm playing at."
Dane Johnson, the Lakers' summer league coach, was not too worried about James' scoring slump. He believed that it was all about instilling confidence and that the young guard would regain his shooting touch soon.
James got off to a quick start, propping up six points to put the Lakers on top in the first quarter against the Houston Rockets on Friday. But soon after, he struggled on offense and ended with paltry numbers that also included three turnovers. Throughout the game, James continued to impress with his hustle and hard defense in the Houston game. He matched up against No. 3 draft pick Reed Sheppard and took him on full court.
Meanwhile, his rookie teammate Dalton Knecht, the Lakers' first-rounder, had a game-high 25 points on 9-18 shooting. His recent run could see him earn significant minutes in the Lakers rotation this upcoming season.
Up next, Bronny James and the Lakers return to action in Las Vegas on Monday, July 15, when they play the Boston Celtics. Tip-off for the marquee contest is slated at 10:30 p.m. ET.