As Bronny James, the Los Angeles Lakers rookie, continues to find his footing in professional basketball, he faces growing scrutiny regarding his performance.
Recently assigned to the G-League’s South Bay Lakers, Bronny has shown flashes of potential but has struggled with shot consistency and an aggressive offensive approach-issues that former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas has publicly addressed.
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During a recent episode of The Gil’s Arena Show, Arenas, known for his candid basketball insights, analyzed Bronny’s game, pinpointing his passive approach as a key obstacle in his development.
According to Arenas, Bronny’s tendency to prioritize passing over scoring may be hindering his growth, especially when decisive scoring opportunities arise.
“The problem with Bronny’s game is he’s not aggressive, and when you’re not looking to score, it becomes a problem,” Arenas noted.
He stressed that while passing is a valuable skill, Bronny may need to embrace a more assertive scoring mentality, rather than hesitating in key moments.
“If you’re sitting here trying to make a pass and the rim is right here… it becomes a harder game,” he added, illustrating the challenge Bronny faces when his focus on distribution overtakes instinctive scoring.
The young guard’s first G-League appearance seemed to echo Arenas’ concerns. In 31 minutes on the court, Bronny contributed six points, three rebounds, and four assists.
However, his shooting struggles continued as he connected on just two of his 10 field-goal attempts.
While his scoring may not yet be at an NBA-ready level, Bronny’s defensive skills have earned praise from South Bay Lakers’ head coach Zach Guthrie, who commended Bronny’s on-ball pressure and unselfish play.
Teammate Quincy Olivari also spoke up for Bronny, defending him from critics who may be quick to compare him to his father, LeBron James.
“I’m a big advocate on pushing that he’s a great player and the criticism he gets is unfair,” Olivari said, showing support for the rookie’s efforts.
While it’s clear that Bronny has time to develop, his journey in the G-League will be essential in honing the skills-and possibly the scoring instincts-that could help him succeed in the NBA.
