JJ Redick, Luka Doncic see improvement in Bronny James this season
· Yahoo Sports
Based on his stats and perhaps even the eye test, Bronny James hasn't made any strides this season as a second-year player in the pros. He put up strong numbers in the G League last year as a rookie, but his scoring, rebounds and assists per game are down this year, and he hasn't shown much, if anything, or note when he has appeared in games at the NBA level for the Los Angeles Lakers.
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But his shooting efficiency in the G League has improved, and on Wednesday, he did show a very small glimpse of what he could be capable of when the Lakers defeated the Indiana Pacers137-130. With veteran guard Marcus Smart out of action, he got 13 minutes of playing time and made two of four shots, giving him four points, plus one rebound, one assist, two steals and one block.
Coach JJ Redick said that James has improved lately and explained how that has been the case.
“He’s gotten significantly better,” Redick said. “I know our staff has a lot of confidence in him. I felt like this was a game we really needed him. It was a game that his athleticism, his defense… he had two really really good defensive possessions, individual defense in the first half.
“I think the biggest thing with him, he’s got a lot of confidence right now — I know he didn't make his 3 tonight, but he’s got a lot of confidence in his shot right now. He’s having a fantastic season with South Bay.
“He’s been arguably the best player for the last three or four weeks in our stay-ready games — every single time. He’s got a bounce to his step right now. I think that just comes from developing that confidence.”
Luka Doncic, who scored 43 points versus Indiana, said he has also seen improvement in the 21-year-old guard.
“Definitely a big improvement from last year,” Doncic said. “I saw him in training camp, he was doing some stuff that I was really impressed with. He did a great job today. Big game for him, that pull-up 2, it was a big bucket. It was one of the most important shots of the game.”
James has a very long way to go before he definitively proves he belongs in the rotation of an NBA team based on his own merits. But he reportedly has a solid attitude and work ethic, and combined with his athletic gifts, that attitude and work ethic could keep him in the league for quite some time.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: JJ Redick, Luka Doncic see improvement in Bronny James this season