Can Bronny James succeed in the NBA?

Whether it’s business or sport, there are standards that must be met if we want the right to participate, and with that, there is no way to avoid the fact that when all is said and done, it’s about work. Conversely, there are countless occasions when some are judged unfairly due to their status. That may be the case for the son of the NBA’s best player.

Does Bronny James have what it takes?

It’s been a week since the NBA Summer League got underway and in that time we’ve seen a multitude of talents take the floor in both Sacramento and Las Vegas. One of them is Bronny James, the son of Los Angeles Lakers icon and the NBA’s all-time scoring leader, LeBron James. A second-round pick out of USC, Bronny has struggled and there’s no way to sugarcoat that. So much so in fact, that some have questioned whether he can cut it in the NBA. Indeed, Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown was recently caught on camera stating that he doesn’t think James has what it takes while watching a Summer League game.

Now, while we could delve into rhetoric, let’s deal with the facts and figures. At 6′2″ James isn’t the biggest in his position and that’s been evidenced by his inability to create space for himself. Then, there is his shot from distance or lack thereof. Ahead of Wednesday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks, James had missed all 15 of the three-pointers that he attempted. When you add that to his 22.6% shooting from the field, it’s not a good look. Of course, it would be unfair to single out James when the Suns’ first-round pick, Ryan Dunn, hasn’t fared much better, shooting 31.8% from the field. There’s also the No. 7 overall pick Donovan Clingan who has notched 27.6% from the field, and we’ve got to mention Alex Sarr’s 17 consecutive misses. The point is, that Bronny’s situation is not unique.

Yet, it would be pretentious to ignore the idea that being who he is, Bronny won’t receive more scrutiny i.e., it comes with the territory. From the signage we’ve seen across Las Vegas to the crowd numbers we’ve seen at each of the Lakers’ games, it’s clear that fans want to get a look at LeBron James’ son. “He has a lot of pressure, a lot of things on him,” said Colin Castleton, James’s Summer League teammate. “So he has a great mindset. He’s a great kid, great teammate and we love being around him. Everybody in the organization loves being around him.”

Is Bronny James’ situation unfair?

Though the answer to that question is debatable, the reality is that those around James himself have seen the need to focus on the bigger picture i.e., manage expectations. “He’s going to have a long career,” said Lakers Summer League coach Dane Johnson. “This is just the beginning.” There was also new Lakers coach JJ Redick who called James “a developmental player” before adding that he told the young guard to “fall in love with [the] process and let go of outcomes,” a sentiment that was seemingly echoed by James’ agent, Rich Paul, who stated that the Summer League “wasn’t the end all be all.” Paul, who is also LeBron’s agent went further. “I think all these guys are in development,” Paul said. “Bronny’s no different. He doesn’t get to be excluded from having to develop. Obviously, I know he wants to make shots and he will make shots, but again, it’s just about building great habits.”

OK, so can Bronny James make it?

While there are many factors to consider, the reality is we’re talking about a guard who is both athletic and has a length reach, attributes that go a long way in the NBA. As seen during his time with the Trojans in college, he’s a defensive threat, something that Redick has spoken openly about wanting to develop. Indeed, the Lakers’ coach has mentioned names such as Oklahoma City Thunder’s Lu Dort and Boston’s Jrue Holiday, both of whom are exceptionally physical guards on defense, something Paul spoke to directly. “It’s, ‘Hey, where am I shining at and where do they see me having an opportunity?’ It’s going to be on the defensive end and that’s where he’s probably the most developed today. The offensive stuff will come.”

Speaking of offense, it should be said that things haven’t been totally terrible for James. On Wednesday, he notched 12 points including two of his five attempts from beyond the arc in what turned out to be a narrow 87-86 win. “It was really encouraging,” James said post-game. There was also Thursday’s 93-89 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers which saw him nail a step-back three in a much more complete performance that ended with 13 points, five rebounds, and three assists. “Just trying to keep my confidence,” James said. “Just going out there and playing my game. I feel like I know the right way to play, so if I go out there and play my game every game, results like that will come.”

Wise words from a young player if we’re honest. However, it’s got to be said that James has maintained maturity throughout, something he credits to the system of support that he’s been able to count on which includes his father of course, who recently gave him some words of advice. “Just being locked in on [the] defensive end,” James said when speaking of his father’s counsel. “If you can’t guard, then you can’t play. But also just being aggressive, staying aggressive, looking for my shot, taking the right shots while being aggressive with them. Just not throwing up some bulls---. So just staying aggressive and keep playing my game.” Ultimately, James is all too aware of the fact that with his family name, comes a greater level of scrutiny, explaining that it “is something I’ve got to deal with if I’m going to play at this level.” Indeed, he will if he is to share a locker room with his father. At any rate, we can only wait and watch at this point, but something tells us that given the mature mentality that he appears to have and the base skill set that he possesses, Bronny James may yet have what it takes to succeed in the NBA.