December 2, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Southern California Trojans guard Bronny James throughout a sport in opposition to the Gonzaga Bulldogs through the Las Vegas Legends Invitational of Basketball at MGM Gardens React. Picture Credit score: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports activities Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown was proper in spite of everything. Bronny James is definitely not a professional.
Not less than that is what lip readers on social media consider Brown stated as he sat courtside through the Los Angeles Lakers’ summer season league sport in opposition to the Celtics on Monday.
An X account imitating ESPN SportsCenter posted a video of Bronny speaking to WNBA guard Kesrae Gondrezic and her former teammate, Chicago Sky ahead Angel Reese, with the caption: “Jalen… Brown stated, ‘I do not assume Bronny is a professional.'”
The video was initially uploaded by NBC Sports activities Boston, a regional community that broadcasts Celtics video games. However apparently, what appeared in Brown’s timeline was a SportsCenter spoof put up.
Brown responded that “Bronny has all of the instruments he must succeed” and that he “appears to be like ahead to watching him develop.”
Not denying the title. No apology. um, sure. Brown will need to have been caught red-handed.
However he was merely stating the apparent.
Within the sport that Brown participated in, James scored two factors on 1 of 5 pictures, and Los Angeles misplaced 88-74. He did bounce again, averaging 12.5 factors on 47.6 p.c capturing over the following two video games earlier than sitting out the Lakers’ Summer season League finals in opposition to the Chicago Bulls on Saturday.
In 4 video games in Las Vegas, James averaged 8.8 factors and three.5 rebounds whereas capturing 35% from the sphere and 15.8% from three-point vary.
Contemplating that is summer season league, James is common at finest, and his capturing is de facto placing strain on him.
Nonetheless, there are those that really consider James generally is a contributor on the subsequent stage as early as this season. Of their opinion, the 19-year-old will not have an effect on opening evening, however the hope is that he can present some helpful minutes every so often as soon as the second half begins.
If you end up on this group, it is perhaps time for a actuality test.
Even the league itself is aware of there’s nothing particular about James’ expertise, and that is mirrored in studies from Summer season League. The highlights appeared to succeed in a brand new low when the NBA determined to launch movie of James deflecting a move in opposition to Boston. It wasn’t till two days later {that a} spotlight reel of James cheering on his teammates from the bench emerged.
With regards to making James look good, the league solely has Las Vegas to faucet into. Nonetheless, it discovered a approach to thrust the second-round decide into the highlight, even on nights when he was pulling down 3-pointers.
have you learnt? That is fantastic for summer season league basketball. Be at liberty to hype LeBron James’ son. But when the league and varied media shops proceed to attempt to maintain Bronny James within the information cycle all through the common season, basketball will undergo.
Bronny James’ profession deserves protection, particularly on an evening when younger James performed alongside his previous man for the primary time. However final names should not blind folks to a handful of prospects who’re positive to make an instantaneous affect in 2023-24 — and who ought to truly flip professional.
