Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson believes that Bronny James has the potential to develop into an NBA starter. The Lakers selected Bronny with the No. 55 pick in the recent NBA Draft, highlighting their confidence in his abilities.
Johnson tweeted, “Basketball fans, Bronny James is in good hands with the Lakers, who are great with developing talent.” He noted recent success stories like Alex Caruso and Austin Reaves, both of whom are now starters in the league. The five-time NBA champion confidently stated that “Bronny will be next.”
In the final preseason game against the Golden State Warriors, Bronny had his first NBA start. Despite the Lakers suffering a blowout loss, 132-74, Bronny played 35 minutes and scored 17 points, shooting 41.2% from the field. He also contributed with four rebounds and three steals during this outing.
The Lakers’ head coach, JJ Redick, opted not to play key players such as LeBron James and Anthony Davis in this game. This decision meant the team primarily fielded two-way players, giving Bronny a valuable opportunity to showcase his skills.
This performance marked Bronny’s best of the preseason. In previous games, he managed only eight points combined over four outings.
During his time at the University of Southern California, concerns were raised about Bronny’s readiness for the NBA. He averaged just 4.8 points per game, ranking eighth on the team in scoring. While his effort and work ethic were praised, his overall contributions on the stat sheet left many wondering about his transition to the professional level.
Bronny’s shooting struggles were evident during his college season, as he recorded a shooting percentage of 36.6% from the field and only 26.7% from beyond the arc. These statistics prompted skepticism regarding his readiness for the NBA.
After his college stint, Bronny participated in the NBA Summer League. Unfortunately, the shooting woes continued, with him averaging 8.8 points per game while shooting just 35% from the field and an alarming 15.8% from three-point range. These numbers further fueled doubts about his ability to thrive in the NBA.
