2 days Ago
Things are looking up for the Lakers. The team has bounced back from a rough early season road trip to win five straight and sit at 9-4 through 13 games, including a flawless 6-0 record at home. As swimmingly as things have gone for L.
A., rookie guard Bronny James is still working to find his way. James is in a slump as he splits time in the NBA and the NBA G League, leaving commentators wondering if he'll ever have what it takes to be a true starter (or even a reliable bench player).
Ken Blaze-Imagn Images The numbers tell a stark story. Across all professional competitions - summer league, NBA games, and G League appearances - Bronny is shooting just 29% (19-for-65) from the field. His offensive struggles have become impossible to ignore, even for his most ardent supporters.
On a recent episode of The Skip Bayless Show , the sports commentator reflected on his previous optimism: "I'm sorry but I just can't help but saying this right now...
I'm just not seeing LeBron James Jr. as an NBA player, now or maybe ever. I sincerely hope that I am wrong about this because LeBron and his wife did such a good job of raising this young man and I have rooted for him from the start.
.. I kept arguing on television that playing alongside his father would bring out the best in him.
I made the case that he was born to play alongside his father because he's a completely unselfish 3 and D complimentary player. Bronny is just what LeBron needs in his backcourt with the Lakers. The truth is, I saw only one great flash from Bronny.
That was in the forth quarter of the McDonalds All Star Game." The veteran sports personality, who once championed Bronny as the perfect complement to his father's game, now sees a much different reality for the young guard. As he continued his analysis, his tone shifted from disappointment to concern: "Since then, I have seen little to nothing from Bronny.
Is it possible that Bronny hasn't regained his confidence in his body since his heart injury? Perhaps...
but there's been so many games where Bronny seemed to be content to just stand and watch. He rarely initiates, rarely attacks." Diving into the statistics that changed his mind, Bayless became more pointed: "Here's his biggest problem, Bronny James just can't shoot.
.. I wrote it off because of his health scare, but now look at what has happened! If we add up all of his professional stats since he got drafted, from summer league, NBA games, to G League games, Bronny as a pro is 19 for 65 from the floor, that's 29%.
" While some will point to Bronny's cardiac incident as a major factor in his slow development, the issues run deeper. Game after game, fans and pundits alike have noted his passive play - rarely initiating and seldom attacking the basket, often content to watch from the perimeter. Adding another layer, the emergence of other young Lakers talents like Austin Reaves and Dalton Knecht has only made Bronny's struggles more apparent: "I thought JJ Redick would be giving Bronny some of Austin Reaves's or Dalton Knecht's minutes.
No. In fact, Knecht has been such a difference maker for the Lakers as a rookie, such a pleasant surprise..
. It's taken all of the pressure off Bronny, because now nobody expects or needs him to contribute whatsoever." Finally, Bayless reached a difficult conclusion, implying that Bronny may never play full-time in the NBA: "At some point, even LeBron is going to have to come to grips with exactly what his son's basketball ceiling is.
What's the endgame here?" Known for his bold takes and unwavering positions, Bayless has done something rare for a sports personality: admitted he was wrong. Kudos to Bayless for coming to grips with reality. Related: Charles Barkley Warned Us About Dalton Knecht.
