The Los Angeles Lakers have kept their faith in Bronny James as a frequent rotational player.
While he has a handful of DNPs this season, he has logged 110 minutes across 10 games (with one start), showing signs of JJ Redick searching for situations to help him find success at the NBA level.
As the former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas watches James, he doesn’t believe the second-year guard is playing to his strengths. The former star got critical of the young Laker on his latest episode of The Arena.
“You can’t just be in the game,” Arenas said of Bronny.
“You’re too athletic, you’re too explosive going to the rim. You’re sitting there trying to play safe basketball, and safe basketball makes you look bad because all of the shots you’re taking, that’s an open three you’re going to take that. You’re not going out there playing actual basketball itself. You’re just trying to survive on the court, and surving on the court means don’t shoot many shots, don’t try to be risky passing the ball around. You’re basically playing hot potato and playing defense.”
With an average of 11 minutes per game, James has accounted for 2.1 points per game, shooting 29 percent from the field. He is attempting fewer than one shot per game. When Arenas sees Bronny play at a different level, he observes a totally different style.
“That’s where his style has been every time he gets a chance in the NBA. This is not the style he plays in the G League. In the G League, he is a focal point and you see him average 21-22,” the ex-star added.
The G League and the NBA is clearly two different levels of basketball. And since Bronny plays on a Western Conference contender, surrounded by stars such as LeBron, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves, the second-year guard has to play a much smaller role, whether he’s aggressive or not.
With the South Bay Lakers last year, Bronny attempted 17.5 shots per game. As a result, he produced 21.9 points per game over 11 matchups. Even if he upped the aggressiveness with the NBA roster, Bronny would be unlikely to get close to 17 attempts in a single outing. But Arenas’ point stands. A player with a wide spotlight on him might play it safe to avoid mistakes.
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