Lakers News: Bronny James Enjoys First Good Summer League Game in Win vs Hawks

The No. 55 pick looked sharp and shot the ball well at last.

Jul 15, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James (9) competes against the Boston Celtics during the second half at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports / Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports

Los Angeles Lakers rookie point guard Bronny James notched his first Summer League victory while submitting his best performance yet as a pro, an 87-86 nailbiter against the Atlanta Hawks, who were missing No. 1 draft pick Zacharie Risacher.

James scored 12 points while shooting 5-of-11 from the hardwood (2-of-5 from long range). He also finally flashed a bit of his dad's clutch gene, nailing one of his two triples in the contest's waning seconds to notch a tie late. Los Angeles would go on to win by a point, which marked the club's first win in Summer League play across six games.

Across James' first four games prior to this one (he sat out one contest with a knee issue), the 6-foot-4 guard had averaged 4.3 points on 22.6 percent field goal shooting and 0 percent three point shooting, comparable to his college output at USC. Los Angeles selected Bronny James, son of incumbent 20-time All-Star Lakers forward LeBron James, with the No. 55 pick this June.

Technically, it is James' first-ever NBA victory.

"I feel like I know the right way to play," James said, per Baxter Holmes of ESPN. "So if I go out there and play my game every game, results like that will come."

"My mom [Savannah James], my dad really help me, encouraging me to stay focused and keep being myself," James said, calling his parents his support system. "So I feel like that's a big part of how I came out [tonight]."

In front of a rabid Las Vegas crowd, James finally left a major impression as a scorer. James acknowledged that intense fan interest in him this summer (often overshadowing engagement in the top draft picks among this year's class, given his famous lineage) has been a big deal.

"It's something... but it's something I've got to deal with if I'm going to play at this level," James aid.

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