Bronny James has breakout Lakers performance after miserable start to NBA preseason

Bronny James bounced back with a solid performance in the Lakers’ preseason finale on Friday night. 

After a miserable start to his NBA career, James dropped 17 points on 7-for-17 shooting with four boards, three steals and a block in 35 minutes against the Warriors as Los Angeles rested their starters. 

“It’s just a great feeling to go out there and not think as much as I do and just play,” James said after the game. “… [It gives me] just a little bit of confidence going into the season even though I might not be in that rotation, might not be playing, but just going into practice, maybe G League games with that confidence in myself to go out there and play my game. I feel like that’s the biggest part of it.”

James had looked like perhaps one of the worst players in the NBA through his first five preseason games, scoring just eight points on 20 percent shooting while going 0-for-7 from three with five turnovers.

He did a relatively good job limiting turnovers Friday, giving the ball up just twice, and made his first deep ball from the top of the key. 

Lakers head coach J.J. Redick, who is also getting used to a new role after signing a four-year deal with the team over the offseason, was encouraged by James’ play on Friday.