The first four games of Bronny James’ NBA Summer League campaign went exactly how it should have gone for a late second round pick.

The 19-year-old struggled, averaging 4.3 points while hitting only 22.6% of his field goal attempts over this stretch, including a disappointing 0-for-15 on three-point attempts.

James is faced with sky-high expectations given his parentage–despite suffering from a heart attack less than a year ago and being drafted a mere 55th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in this year’s NBA Draft–which has made him an easy target for critics. He actually has a realistic grasp on how good of a player he is at the moment and acknowledged that he expects to spend some time with the Lakers’ G-League team, the South Bay Lakers, this season to further his development.

Although still a raw prospect, the 6’2″ guard possesses the potential to become a solid NBA player. James has an NBA-ready physique at 210 lbs, a 6’7″ wingspan, and a decent feel for the game which alone give him a major advantage over others. However, there are still some rough edges in his game that he needs to smoothen out before becoming a viable rotation level player.

The most glaring hole in James’ game at the moment is, by far, his three-point shooting. In his lone season at USC, he hit only 26.7% of his three-point attempts. To carve out a meaningful basketball career on his own merit, improving in this area must be a priority, as there is little room in the modern NBA for guards who cannot shoot.

James himself has shown a high self-awareness regarding his strengths and weaknesses. He has compared himself to the reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics’ starting guards Jrue Holiday and Derrick White as well as the Sacramento Kings’ Davion Mitchell. All three of these players are top-tier defensive guards in their own right and if Bronny follows the blueprint that they set, there is no question that he will find his way to an NBA roster.

The former Trojan showcased his potential in the Lakers’ first win of the 2024 NBA Summer League, where they narrowly defeated the Atlanta Hawks, 87-86. James scored nine of his 12 points in the first half and finally hit his first three-pointer of the tournament late in the second quarter. He then hit a second three-pointer–his only field goal of the second half–late in the fourth quarter as Los Angeles traded baskets with Atlanta before securing the win.

What makes James’ performance even more impressive is his ability to tune out all of the criticism. Instead of folding after his poor opening run of games, he ignored all of the chatter and managed to deliver a strong performance in his fifth appearance. His mental toughness is evident and may ultimately be what allows him to become the best version of himself.

James may never escape his father’s shadow, but that doesn’t mean he can’t make an impact in the NBA. He has the potential to become an elite defensive guard at the highest level of basketball and the world will be watching this journey closely. 

Like any other second round pick though, it will take some time before he turns into the kind of player that everyone wants him to become. Patience is needed in this situation, but in due time, he just might prove to be worth the wait.