Lakers’ head coach, JJ Redick, talked to media about Bronny James’ development and growth as a player and what he needs to do going forward.
JJ Redick shares some insights on Bronny James’ growth as a player
Since moving to the G-League, Bronny James has been on an upswing. He seems to be thriving with the South Bay Lakers, taking his time to develop and evolve to the pace and magnitude of the NBA. Due to being the son of Lebron James, Bronny is unlike any other rookie in the league. For a number 55 pick, the number of eyeballs he garners is unrivalled.
In his most recent outing, Bronny James logged a career-high 30 points, breaking his previous career-high of 16 points in a matter of weeks. Witnessing the improvement in his productivity, Lakers head coach JJ Redick shared some words of encouragement for the rising star. While speaking to the media on Tuesday at the Lakers’ practice facility, Redick took questions from reporters regarding James Jr.’s future trajectory with the Lakers.
He’s got to get to the point where it’s okay to fail. I think he has a real reservation to fail, 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. Part of player development is not just the physical skills, and the physical development, but it is the mental development as well.
JJ Redick replied
The Lakers initially intended for James Jr. to play only in home games, but after his spectacular performance in his first road game in the G-League, he is now expected to participate in the G-League Winter Showcase. From December 19th to 22nd, high-ranking personnel and executives from all 30 teams will attend the tournament to scout talent.
In his past three appearances, Bronny James has improved significantly, averaging 20.7 points per game on 43.1% shooting from the field, along with flashes of great defensive plays that have become his trademark. Based on the coach’s replies, fans can soon expect to see more of Bronny James sharing the court alongside his dad.
JJ Redick discusses how he plans to coach going forward
Emphasizing the importance of discipline and simplicity, JJ Redick, a player-turned-coach, recently expanded on his coaching philosophy going forward. Redick’s new approach won’t just be limited to rookies like Bronny James or Dalton Knecht but will apply to all players on the roster. Speaking on his methodology, Redick remarked:
You’re either gonna do things that we’re asking you to do, you’re gonna play or not gonna do those things and you’re not gonna play. It’s very simple, and that’s just the way I am gonna coach the basketball going forward. Not just for Bronny…..It’s no different from Max Christie and Dalton. You do those things, you will be rewarded with play.
Speaking on his methodology, JJ Redick remarked
As Bronny James continues to develop under the guidance of JJ Redick and the Lakers’ coaching staff, his future in the NBA looks increasingly promising. Even with the allegations of nepotism and privilege flying around the social media, JJ Redick stresses on the importance of mounting these mental hurdles if Bronny James want to carve his out his own path in the league, separate from the shadow of his famous father.