Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick believes Bronny James will flourish as an NBA player when he clears one mental hurdle.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Redick said the “very coachable” 20-year-old must accept failure to grow as a player. The former shooting guard understands that Bronny has faced a far brighter spotlight than the typical NBA prospect as the son of LeBron James.
“He’s got to get to the point where it’s OK to fail. I think he has a real reservation to fail,” Redick said, 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.”
Redick added that Bronny has “done everything we’ve asked” and said a young player’s development involves learning mental and physical skills.
Selected with the No. 55 overall pick this year, Bronny has played 18 minutes in six games for the Lakers. After sharing the court with his dad, making them the NBA’s first father-son duo to ever play together, the guard scored his first career NBA basket in Cleveland.
The 6-foot-3 guard is beginning to progress in the G League. In five games for the South Bay Lakers, Bronny has averaged 14.4 points, including 30 in his first road matchup last Thursday.
“I think where I’ve seen [his progress] on court in the G League, I think some decision-making with the basketball, being on ball, and making good decisions both as a scorer and as a playmaker,” Redick said. “Continuing to see the flashes defensively of what we’re really excited about.”
McMenamin and Shams Charania reported that James will play in this week’s G League Winter Showcase. Starting on Thursday, executives from all NBA teams will convene in Orlando to watch 31 games over a four-day window.
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