JJ Reddick: ‘No shortcuts’ for Bronny James as he makes…

Arms extended, clutching cellphones, fans at the NBA 2K25 Summer League feverishly captured the perfect viral shot of Bronny James during Lakers team intros. Making his Las Vegas Summer League debut, James brought an excitement reminiscent of former No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama’s first game at Thomas & Mack Center. Despite being the 55th pick of the 2024 NBA Draft, James carried the fanfare of a lottery selection.

James set a new scoring high for the summer in the first quarter with six points but finished with eight points on 3-for-14 shooting (0-8 3PM) as the Los Angeles Lakers lost 99-80 to the Houston Rockets.

Lakers coach JJ Redick, speaking during the ESPN broadcast, emphasized the importance of the process over outcomes. “He’s obviously case study No. 1. We’re going to invest heavily in him. He’s got to fall in love with that process and let go of outcomes.”

James showed progress in his Las Vegas debut, taking more shots on Friday than in his previous two games combined, despite finishing the summer shooting 6-for-26. While the percentages weren’t optimal, his willingness to take those shots demonstrated growth. James, projected as a 3-and-D player, showcased his defensive skills with two steals and logged four steals, 10 rebounds, and three blocks over his last two games.

Redick encouraged James to pressure the ball, saying, “If you get blown by, that’s on me.” James didn’t get blown by and proved to be an on-ball menace.

Naturally, there’s curiosity about how LeBron and Bronny James will function together in a Lakers locker room. LeBron addressed this during an interview on TODAY, emphasizing the separation of fatherhood from being teammates. “I’m going to hold him accountable, and he should hold me accountable when I do things not right. As he continues to grow and learn, I hope he can separate son from teammate.”

This dynamic will be tested as they become the first father-son duo to play in the NBA simultaneously on the same team. “We have one common goal on the floor, and that’s to win the game and get better every day,” LeBron said. “I probably will hold him to a higher standard because I want him to be great. There won’t be any shortcuts, that’s for sure.”