Few rookies in the NBA are generating as much buzz as Bronny James, and it’s not solely because of his game. Much of the spotlight comes from being the son of four-time NBA champion LeBron James.
Selected 55th in the draft, Bronny should have the benefit of low expectations given that late-round picks are rarely expected to perform immediately and often spend time developing before getting NBA minutes. But with his last name and the attention that comes with it, he’s already being asked to prove he can contribute at the NBA level.
Amid the pressure, Bronny’s G-League tenure suggests he’s moving in the right direction. He previously showcased his potential with a breakout game of 30 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists on 57% shooting from the field.
Now, Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick believes Bronny’s next step relies on his mental approach. Specifically, Redick said Bronny needs to get past the fear of failure to truly ‘take off’ in the NBA.
“He’s got to get to the point where it’s OK to fail. And I think he has a real reservation to fail,” Redick told reporters on Tuesday, per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “And I think a lot of that is he’s had a camera on him since he was eight years old. … He’s had attention on him, I’m cognizant of that. I think, once he develops that, he’s going to take off.”
JJ Redick speaks about the next phase of Bronny James’ development: overcoming a fear of failure. Redick believes Bronny’s career will “take off” when he clears that mental hurdle pic.twitter.com/6JX9FmPhXl
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) December 17, 2024
