As Bronny James prepares for his second yr within the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers, the 19-year-old guard is making it clear: he is embracing the grind.
After a quiet rookie season with the Lakers, James is again on the court docket this week for NBA Summer season League motion.
And this time round, he says his mindset and preparation are way more targeted and mature.
“In order that’s my major focus, in all probability why I am getting somewhat leaner,” James stated in an interview with The Los Angeles Instances.
“However I nonetheless obtained 215 [pounds] on me nonetheless. So, I am simply operating loads, getting loads of conditioning in. After which simply staying on prime of my food plan, maintaining a healthy diet, being an expert.”
James solely appeared in 27 video games for the Lakers final season, averaging 2.3 factors per contest with restricted minutes.
Most of his growth happened within the G League, the place he noticed a serious uptick in alternative and responded by averaging 21.9 factors per recreation. Now, he is attempting to hold that momentum into Summer season League and past.
Protection and self-discipline driving 12 months 2
At the same time as his offensive abilities evolve, James is aware of precisely what it’ll take to earn significant minutes on an NBA flooring, protection.
“I can not lose that defensive drive that can get me on the ground as a result of there’s gonna be guys that may rating 15, 20 a recreation,” he stated.
“I am most certainly not going to be that man proper now. To get myself on the ground, I’ve obtained to be a defensive menace.”
That sort of self-awareness is a part of what has impressed Lakers coaches, who’ve praised his work ethic and willingness to embrace the staff’s wants.
James echoed that by saying his greatest leap will not be simply in his soar shot or ball dealing with, however in his health and focus.
“It is simply 12 months 2, so I gotta lock in on the issues that I did not know earlier than my rookie yr and being higher and excel with that,” James stated.
“Yeah, my major focus is that this yr, or this summer season, has been being in elite situation. That is what I have been speaking to my coaches about.”
Taking part in along with his father, LeBron James, who’s getting into his twenty third NBA season, has given Bronny a front-row seat to what sustained excellence appears like.
The youthful James is taking notes, and his summer season priorities replicate that.
He isn’t promising a breakout season, however he’s promising progress – beginning with the defensive id that first obtained him seen at USC and in his pre-draft exercises.
James will take the ground this week in Summer season League, the place followers will get their newest glimpse at how a lot he is developed since becoming a member of the Lakers.
Along with his focus narrowed and conditioning ramped up, Bronny’s sophomore marketing campaign might inform us extra about his long-term NBA potential than something he did as a rookie.
