Bronny James has breakout Lakers performance after miserable start to NBA preseason

Bronny James bounced back with a solid performance in the Lakers’ preseason finale on Friday night. 

After a miserable start to his NBA career, James dropped 17 points on 7-for-17 shooting with four boards, three steals and a block in 35 minutes against the Warriors as Los Angeles rested their starters. 

“It’s just a great feeling to go out there and not think as much as I do and just play,” James said after the game. “… [It gives me] just a little bit of confidence going into the season even though I might not be in that rotation, might not be playing, but just going into practice, maybe G League games with that confidence in myself to go out there and play my game. I feel like that’s the biggest part of it.”

James had looked like perhaps one of the worst players in the NBA through his first five preseason games, scoring just eight points on 20 percent shooting while going 0-for-7 from three with five turnovers.

He did a relatively good job limiting turnovers Friday, giving the ball up just twice, and made his first deep ball from the top of the key. 

Lakers head coach J.J. Redick, who is also getting used to a new role after signing a four-year deal with the team over the offseason, was encouraged by James’ play on Friday.

“I think for him and all our younger players, all the moments are building blocks,” Redick said. “Not just the good moments. The bad moments are learning opportunities. I think you have to have a level of patience, a level of optimism. I’m very confident in the level of work that our young guys have had.

“So again, I think for him, I’m sure it felt good to have 17 points. … I’m not even remotely concerned about that. It’s not even on my radar. Like, we’re trying to help him grow into a great basketball player.”