This might sound crazy, but Bronny James just passed Ben Simmons for a career achievement. Despite Bronny playing in just 22 games in the NBA, he already has more three-pointers made than Simmons. Simmons has been in the league for seven seasons, but he has failed to adapt to the new style of playing, which involves a lot of long-range shooting.
Bronny Passes Former No.1 Pick in Career Achievement
Last night against the Milwaukee Bucks, Bronny got 30 minutes of action, the most in a regular season NBA game. He responded with a career-high in points, finishing the game with 17 points on 7-10 shooting, including 2-4 from behind the arc. Before this game, Bronny and Simmons were tied for career three-point makes at five. But Bronny now has the lead over the former No.1 pick.
Here is another interesting fact. It took Ben Simmons three years to make his first three-pointer. He went 0-11 in his rookie season, and 0-6 in his second season. He hit 2-7 in his third season and 3-10 in his fourth season. The last time Ben hit a three-pointer, Bronny was still in high school. Simmons hasn’t made a three-pointer since the 2020-21 season. Truth be told, he has attempted only two shots from behind the arc since then.
Not only does Bronny James have more three-pointers than Ben Simmons, but he also has better career efficiency. So far, Bronny is 7-26 from behind the arc, good for a 26.9% percentage. Simmons is 5-36, good for 13.9% efficiency.
Bronny Responds to Criticism Better than Ben Simmons
Yesterday, a new exclusive interview for The Athletic came out. In it, Bronny talked about how he responds to criticism and everything that has been happening around him. Since being drafted 55th overall by the Lakers, people from all over the world have been criticizing him. His father, LeBron James, even had to go and defend him from media scrutiny. Now, in the latest interview, Bronny talks about how he feels about it. He said,
“My first thought about everything is I always try to just let it go through one ear and out the other, put my head down and come to work and be positive every day. But sometimes it just, it fuels me a little bit. I see everything that people are saying, and people think, like, I’m a f–king robot, like I don’t have any feelings or emotions. But I just take that and use it as fuel for me to go out, wake up every day and get to the gym early, get my extra work in.”
That is what his father has taught him, and as Bronny says in the interview, that is what the team and coaching staff expect of him. People all over the world assumed that the Lakers drafted Bronny due to nepotism because his father plays for the franchise.
JJ Redick Praises Bronny’s Career Night
Ever since Bronny was drafted, coach JJ Redick has talked about how he works hard every day and that he has earned the right to be an NBA player. After the game against the Bucks, Redick talked about Bronny’s career night, saying,
“He’s really good. So not surprised by tonight. I think confidence is growing because you mention the word comfort. That’s that certainly. The next step is becoming an elite-conditioned athlete. Because he does that with his physical tools. We think he is going to be an above-average to really good NBA shooter. He is going to have a chance to really make an impact.”
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