According to one Lakers teammate, this year’s NBA Summer League was like “Bronny James on tour.”
Anonymous member of the Lakers Summer League team Explained to The Sun The increased attention given to the eldest son of LeBron James, who was selected by the Lakers with the 55th pick in the second round of this year’s NBA draft, has created a “tensed atmosphere” and players have become frustrated with the special treatment he is receiving.
“So, he wasn’t treated the same as all of us, he was treated as a different person. There was no chemistry with this group of players and that was very frustrating,” he said, adding that “pretty much everything revolved around James.”
“At the end of the day, I was super frustrated because they wanted Bronny to use his skills and shine, but they didn’t put me in the best situations or incorporate me into their play or game plan,” he said. “If you talk to other players who were on the roster for the California Classic or Summer League, most of them will tell you the same thing.
“The nerves were obvious and we were all just thinking about getting out of here after summer league and focusing on the next step in our careers.”
But the player added that he “feels a little sorry” for James, saying, “He’s not ready for all of this yet and he’s not ready for the NBA in my opinion.”
The 19-year-old James missed the first eight games of his freshman year at USC after suffering cardiac arrest during practice last July.
In his lone season at USC, he appeared in 25 games and averaged 4.8 points (on 36.6 percent shooting), 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists.
Bronny performed well at the NBA Combine in May. Maximum vertical jump: 40 1/2 inches During three-point shooting practice, he made 19 of 25 shots.
Another source told The Sun that dealing with “tension” within the team had been “frustrating”.
Summer league rosters are made up of young players, including recent top draft picks.
“That tension didn’t help the players bond,” the source said, adding that they “bear no grudge” against his brother James.
“And I felt there was no unity. [between] “Because Bronny was the main character, the guys in this group didn’t think it was right or that he deserved it,” the source said.
“That doesn’t bode well for us… and dealing with the attention and treatment of Bronny has meant a lot of our other young players who are hoping to make the roster next season haven’t been able to show their best side and play at their best.”
Fans from around the country flocked to the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas to watch James make his NBA Summer League debut as a member of the Lakers.
James averaged 8.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1 assist through four games.
The 6-foot-2 guard has made big strides in his final two games, scoring 12 points in a win over the Hawks and then pouring in 13 points in a win over the Cavaliers last week.
James appeared more confident with the ball on both ends of the court and was driving to the basket at a faster pace.
One broadcasting station “You’ll see a different Bronny James.” During Los Angeles’ 93-89 win over Cleveland.
He and his father could become the first father-son teammates in NBA history.
