Los Angeles Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka has elaborated on the team’s decision to draft Bronny James at No. 55 in the NBA Draft.
“Bronny is first and foremost a person of high character. And second, he’s a young man that works incredibly hard. Those qualities align perfectly with what we seek in our players and developmental core at the Lakers,” Pelinka stated.
Pelinka highlighted Bronny’s work ethic and character as decisive factors in his selection, emphasizing the young player’s commitment to earning his opportunities on merit rather than entitlement.
“He’s not a person that has ever taken shortcuts or expected or been entitled about basketball opportunities. He’s worked for everything that he’s gotten, including being selected today at 55. So it’s an honor for us to add him to our program,” he added.
Coach JJ Redick is enthusiastic about designing a developmental plan to enhance Bronny’s basketball skills and integrate him into the Lakers’ system.
“Coach Redick is already excited about putting a development plan around him to increase his basketball skills and turn him into the player that we think can impact and help this franchise,” Pelinka mentioned.
“I believe in the importance of developing two-way players who excel in defense and shooting. Bronny has shown potential as a disruptive defender and has made significant strides in his shooting,” Pelinka commented.
He also pointed out Bronny’s versatility, saying, “I think he can guard multiple positions. We’ve really seen growth in his shooting. I think at the [draft] combine when we were there with the scouting staff, he was one of the leaders and sort of making his shots in some of the drills.”
Pelinka outlined the Lakers’ innovative approach to player development, emphasizing a strategic focus on nurturing talent like Bronny’s alongside other young prospects.
“As we build our Player Development staff, we’re committed to implementing new methods to maximize the potential of our players, including Bronny and others on our roster,” Pelinka affirmed.
