Bronny James loves staying ‘lowkey’ while improving during his rookie NBA season.
The Los Angeles Lakers continue to plummet in the Western Conference standings amid injuries to multiple stars, including LeBron James.
So much so that head coach JJ Redick had to include Bronny James on the roster during the team’s 131-126 defeat at the hands of the Denver Nuggets.
James Jr. was called up from the Lakers’ G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, where he has somewhat impressed fans with his performances.
Being LeBron’s son comes with its pros and cons. Sure, Bronny may have earned a somewhat easy way into the league, but it also makes him an easy target for the media.
James Jr. has received a plethora of criticism for his rookie season, albeit spending the majority of it in the G League. Following the Lakers’ recent loss, Bronny spoke about how he navigates through the struggles of balancing both roles.
“I always try to stay as low-key as I can. Whether that’s media [or] everything really, living life. Just putting in the work, behind the scenes.
“I feel like it’s been really good for me. I worked all summer before the draft, and I’m still working right now, so I can see improvement, and it’s been going well for me.”
Considering the fact that Bronny was a late second-round draft pick, he shouldn’t be expected to become a household name like his father.
While there have been improvements in his skills over the last few months, he still has a long way to go before earning regular minutes for the Purple and Gold.
Due to the Lakers being extremely shorthanded, they had to give extra minutes to their bench players, including Bronny.
The 20-year-old played in 16 minutes, where he had 5 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 steal. He shot 1-of-5 from the field as he only attempted three-point shots.
Considering he shot just 20% from the field, it was far from ideal, as the Nuggets had no problem dealing with him.
With less than 20 games left to be played in the regular season, it’s hard to see James Jr. taking an enormous leap and earning a spot in coach Redick’s playoff rotation.
