Bronny James is entering his second NBA season with the Los Angeles Lakers. In what seems likely to be his final season playing alongside his dad, LeBron James, with the team, he's looking to earn playing time and become a part of the rotation.
Last season as a rookie, James barely saw the floor. He played in 23 games and made one start, but did not receive valuable minutes.
There are some who don't see James being a long-term fit for the Lakers. He has shown improvement from this time last year, but there are still a lot of areas in his game that need a lot of work.
James recently spoke out about what he knows he needs to do to earn playing time. He believes that he needs to focus on the defensive side of the court.
"There's gonna be guys that can score 15, 20 a game," James said. "I'm most likely not going to be that guy right now... I've got to be a defensive menace."
With that being said, the young guard has received some major criticism from notable sports analyst Dan Patrick.
During Luka Doncic's press conference after landing a huge extension from Los Angeles, the younger James was nowhere to be seen. That did not sit right with Patrick. He believes that James should have attended the press conference.
"Bronny James should've been there," Patrick said. "You're the last guy on the roster, you should be there."
Throwing out a criticism for a player not attending a press conference for a teammates extension is a bit of an odd reason. No damage was done by James not attending the press conference.
That being said, it does fit with how the media has treated James since he was drafted by the Lakers. His dad did not attend the press conference either.
Granted, showing support for a teammate is a big part of being a professional athlete. James showing up could have strengthened his relationship with the other players on the roster.
It will be interesting to see what the younger James' second NBA season has in store for him. Should he be unable to crack the rotation, rumors will begin swirling about his future in Los Angeles.
Expect to continue hearing a lot about James as the season draws closer.
For more on the Los Angeles Lakers and general NBA news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
Related Articles
2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.