Palm Désert, California – three days of less than a year after Bonny James made his pre -season debut with the Los Angeles Lakers in this desert arena, the most famous NBA son resumed his quest to show that he belongs to the big leagues.
Although his shooting performance at 1 for 12 was not ideal, James estimated that his effort on Friday evening was another step forward in a process that already shows results in the coach JJ Redick.
Bronny James scored eight points while LeBron James and Luka Doncic sat on the defeat of the Lakers 103-81 against the Phoenix Suns.
The 40 -year -old father of Bronny deliberately progresses in his return from a minor nerve injury to start his 23rd season of NBA Record, while Dononic accelerates with caution after his summer responsible for playing for Slovenia in Eurobasket.
This has left a lot of playing time in the Coachella valley for depth players like Bronny James, who struck a 3 -point at the end of the third quarter for his sole goal on the field. He missed his seven other attempts by 3 points while fighting for buckets alongside his recovery comrades 2024 Dalton Knecht, who was 2 for 10 shot and 1 for 7 distance.
“I felt like I was very good,” said Bronny James, who was 21 on Monday. “Not rushed, not forcing anything. I did not have my legs under me as much as I wanted, so many of them were short, but most of them were online. I felt like I could do them. I had the impression of having taken good shots.”
Bronny’s confidence was not reduced by these failures after the Lakers opened their pre-season in the same arena where he played alongside his famous father in October 2024.
Fans of the Palm Springs region who rumbled with anticipation each time Bonny touched the ball a year ago did not react much this time. The novelty of the presence of Bronny has faded when he continues to become something much more than a spectacle.
Bonny was in the first Lakers substitution group, and he played almost 24 minutes. He gave a defensive effort consistent with intermittent efficiency when he works to become the impact defender that Redick thinks that he can become more growth.
“I really felt like I was more comfortable, especially with the ball in my hands, and with the defensive and offensive patterns,” said Bonny. “But I’m just trying to feel it. I still feel my way and continue to grow.”
Bronny appeared in 27 games for Lakers during his recruit season, even making the history of basketball by playing alongside his father in the first match. But Bronny has accomplished a large part of his growth in League G, where he collected on average 21.9 points and 5.5 assists per match for the Lakers subsidiary.
After a summer of hard work, Bonny demonstrates progress to Redick.
“He is so much more comfortable and confident as a player,” said Redick about Bonny. “Regarding skills, in terms of reading, all these things have improved, but there is a big difference between improving these things in individual training and small groups and doing it 5 against 5. … He is a completely different player a year ago. I thought what he had done in League G last year was enormous for him in the development of a level of comfort to play at this level.”
Austin Reaves scored 20 points to lead the starters of the Lakers, which included the new arrivals Deandre Ayton and Jake Laravia with Rui Hachimura and Jarred Vanderbilt.
Bronny James was not the only player in the Lakers to try to stand out in defense. Ayton achieved eight rebounds and only one point while taking only two shots in 18 minutes, but he also blocked two shots while demonstrating his commitment to protect the edge.
The pre-season of Lakers continues on Sunday against the Golden State Warriors. Redick said that Donic will also be held on this match in San Francisco, just like LeBron James.
This means that Bronny James will be more likely, and he remains determined to grasp them.
“I’m just trying to feel it, trying to involve representatives with the guys,” said Bonny. “There will probably be not as many opportunities during the season, so I just defended hard, to play my game, to do the non-negotiable. So, if JJ sees it, maybe he will give me an opportunity.”
