Copyright Lake Show Life
Bronny James' struggles continued on Monday night, as the Los Angeles Lakers lost 122-108 to the Trail Blazers. With several key Lakers, including LeBron James, out for the game, Bronny first checked in late in the first quarter. The quarter ended with Jrue Holiday blocking Bronny's shot, getting the rebound, and making a step-back three-pointer with 0.6 seconds left on the clock, giving Portland a four-point lead. It didn't get better than that for Bronny. He finished with zero points (0-of-2), three rebounds, three assists, one block, one steal, three fouls, and three turnovers in 20 minutes. Entering Monday, JJ Redick had played Bronny only once, for three minutes during garbage time in the Lakers' win over the Timberwolves on Friday. Bronny didn't do himself any favors during the preseason, either. He averaged 6.8 points per game on 25% shooting from the floor. He shot 2-of-13 from three. It will be virtually impossible for him to carve out a role for himself in the NBA if he can't shoot. Bronny played 20 minutes in Lakers' loss to Trail Blazers He's still very young, as he turned 21 earlier this month. You can say over and over that he should've stayed in college for more than a season, and you'd be right, but that won't change anything. Bronny declared for the draft, and the Lakers selected him with the No. 55 pick. As heartwarming as it was to see him and LeBron play together for the first time, LA is far past that. Bronny still needs a lot of time before he can even be considered a regular NBA rotation player, and there is a chance that day won't come. Hopefully, that won't be the case, but if we're going off what we've seen thus far, it's not looking good. He isn't a player whom Redick can rely on, not even when the Lakers are shorthanded. He hasn't proven that he's ready for the moment. His best bet to have a shot in the NBA is to continue to develop in the G League, where he showed improvement last season as a rookie. It's becoming clearer that Bronny isn't NBA-ready. The Lakers are in a limbo period, trying to win now with Luka Dončić and LeBron (health is important, of course), while still positioned well for the future. Even juggling those two timelines, there isn't a space where Bronny fits—not right now, at least.
