Bronny ignores his father’s problems
In the shadow of LeBron, Bronny James is finding his own way with defense, discipline – and a relentless work ethic.
Bronny James is 20 years old and still a prospect fighting for his place in the NBA. But he’s not just any prospect. The son of LeBron James arrived at the Las Vegas Summer League as another late second-round pick – number 55 in 2024 – yet the spotlight on him is far from ordinary. From the moment he touched down, the questions weren’t just about basketball. Reporters wanted to know about his father and the strained situation unfolding with the Lakers – a possible split that flickers on and off, with a haze of passive-aggressive statements and cryptic actions.
Bronny keeping out the LeBron noise
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, that’s not something I pay attention to,” Bronny told reporters. “There’s a lot of noise out there, and I just ignore it. I don’t talk much with my dad about the future. When stuff comes out, I’m told not to worry, to block it out and just focus on myself – on growing and getting better as a player.” And that’s exactly what he’s been doing.
After debuting with the Lakers in his rookie season – becoming the first son to play in the NBA alongside his father – Bronny spent much of the year working behind the scenes. That effort paid off in the G League, where he averaged nearly 22 points over his final 11 games with the South Bay Lakers. “That stretch made me realize I can try to be more aggressive on offense,” he said. “But I can’t let my defensive energy drop – that’s what’s going to get me minutes on the court. There are guys who can go out there and score 15 or 20 a night. I’m probably not one of those guys right now. What I can be is a defensive threat. That’s where I lock in – making sure I’m fully prepared and in shape for that. I’ve shown I can score more, and I have to keep that in mind, but I can’t stop focusing on defense.”
Positivity surrounds Bronny
Despite the circus around him, Bronny continues to earn praise from coaches and teammates, especially for his ability to stay grounded. “Credit to him,” said Zach Guthrie, his coach with the South Bay Lakers. “With everything going on around him – all that noise, all those distractions that can be poison – he finds a way to block it out and focus on getting better.”
In his first few games at the Las Vegas Summer League, Bronny has backed that up. He’s slimmed down to 214 pounds after sticking to a strict diet and an intense training program. His goal is clear – to be able to play ten-minute stretches at maximum intensity, especially on defense.
In a game against the Pelicans in Las Vegas, Bronny scored 14 points, dished out three assists, and showed flashes of a smoother, more confident offensive game. Still, as he keeps emphasizing, his true strength lies on the other side of the court – guarding ball-handling guards at the point of attack. It’s a defensive niche the Lakers desperately need to fill and have yet to nail down in their rotation. That’s Bronny’s chance to secure a modest but solid spot in JJ Redick’s plans.
Against New Orleans, he was assigned to defend Jeremiah Fears – the seventh overall pick in this year’s draft and a Pelicans rookie who has declared his ambition to be “one of the top two point guards in history.” With Bronny draped over him most of the night, Fears finished with just 15 points on a dreadful 5-for-21 shooting (1-for-7 from deep) and failed to record a single assist.
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