Second-year guard Bronny James has urged his Los Angeles Lakers teammates to follow the lead of his legendary father, LeBron James, ahead of their first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets.
With the shorthanded Lakers entering the series without their two leading scorers, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, they are viewed as massive underdogs. However, Bronny feels his father can lead them to the promised land, banking on his past experience guiding less talented teams to deep playoff runs.
“He’s won series, won Finals, I think we just need to have our mind open and ears open and listen to whatever he says because he knows the most,” Bronny said of his father on Thursday, via ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
“He’s only saying that because he wants to win…”
“We just got to listen to him,” Bronny added.
LeBron James Backs Bronny James
Bronny’s comments came shortly after LeBron heaped praise on his son’s development as a pro and expressed confidence that the USC alum will shine in the playoffs.
“Me being on the floor with him, it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me in my career, above everything that I’ve accomplished,” LeBron said on Thurday, via ESPN.
“So, the fact that he’s put himself in a position to get his number called for a postseason game is pretty remarkable and pretty cool given the circumstances that he’s been given the last couple years.
“He earned it, he deserves it, and he’ll be ready.”
Bronny James Earns Lakers’ Trust
Further to LeBron’s point, Bronny has “put himself in a position” to become a part of the Lakers’ playoff rotation after a few impressive performances to close out the regular season. On Wednesday, Lakers head coach JJ Redick lauded Bronny for improving as a perimeter defender and three-point shooter.
“We’re going to have to have all hands on deck for the series,” Redick said of entering the playoff series without Doncic and Reaves.
“When you’re short-handed, he’s got to be ready. … I think Bronny’s improved a lot. I think we trust him. The shooting piece I’m a believer in because of how well he’s shot it for the last two years in the G League. … He’s improved a ton defensively, in terms of his body positioning both on- and off-ball.”
Game 1 of the Lakers vs. Rockets series tips off at 5:30 p.m. PT on Saturday. The Lakers enter the series as +550 underdogs. The Lakers are expected to start Marcus Smart, Luka Kennard, LeBron James, Rui Hachimura and Deandre Ayton, with Jake LaRavia as the first man off the bench. Besides Bronny, Nick Smith Jr. is also expected to receive big minutes off the bench as a backup guard.
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