Arguably the biggest storyline centered around this year’s summer league event is Bronny James. The 19-year-old was controversially selected with the No. 55 pick of the 2024 NBA draft.
The polarizing draft pick caused people to scream nepotism. Many thought the Los Angeles Lakers selected James because of his father LeBron James.
After a poor freshman campaign at USC, James had a rough start to his summer league stint. He failed to make a 3-pointer in several contests. Recently though, he’s played better.
In the Lakers’ summer league win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, the 19-year-old had his best outing of the July event. He totaled 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting, five rebounds and three assists.
Chet Holmgren went on social media to praise the second-round rookie. He said he looked like a professional basketball player. There have been questions about James’ abilities to be an actual NBA player.
Looked like a pro
— chet holmgren (@ChetHolmgren) July 19, 2024
He’s undersized as a guard at 6-foot-1 and had a forgettable college season coming off the bench for a bad Trojans squad. A health scare is also another cause for concern. He suffered a cardiac arrest in July 2023.
Amid national scrutiny, James seems to have a supporter in Holmgren. The 19-year-old will likely receive plenty of time in the spotlight next season with the Lakers.
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