“I give him an…” — JJ Redick evaluates Bronny James’ rookie year in Los Angeles Lakers

Bronny James wrapped up his rookie campaign with both encouraging strides and evident areas for improvement. The Los Angeles Lakers' regular-season finale against the Portland Trail Blazers offered a starting role for Bronny with his significant milestone in his first year in the NBA. Though his performance on the stat sheet didn’t astonish the league, head coach JJ Redick had no doubts about the 20-year-old guard’s upward trajectory.

Bronny James posted four points on 2-of-10 shooting with six assists and four steals in the 109-81 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. JJ Redick, however, wasn't interested in box scores. When asked to evaluate Bronny’s first NBA season, the head coach didn’t hesitate to shower praise for LeBron James’ son.

“I give him an A+,” Redick said via SoCal News Group. “How he has personally handled a lot of attention, good and bad, he doesn’t even break character. He’s the same guy every day. He doesn’t allow the good attention to get to him, and he doesn’t allow the bad attention to get to him. He just continues to work.”

Sunday’s game may have been Bronny’s first start. The rookie guard split time between the Lakers and their G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers. That stint, according to Redick, was a turning point.
“I thought [coach] Zach [Guthrie] and his staff did a phenomenal job with him when he was down with the South Bay Lakers,” Redick noted. “He’s improved, and we saw this particularly—you know, I went to some early games and seeing his confidence grow from October, November, to really that second part of the G League season, post Showcase, was phenomenal.”
In 11 regular-season G League games, Bronny averaged 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 5.4 assists. Of course, it was a huge contrast to his 2.3 points per game in 27 NBA appearances. His career-high 39-point outing against the Santa Cruz Warriors in March was a major statement.
The buzz around Bronny’s debut and development hasn’t been quiet. Social media critiques, lofty expectations, and constant media attention have had a huge impact on the young NBA star.
“Thought I got better, I thought I grew as a player and a person,” Bronny told Spectrum SportsNet after the Portland game. “There’s just more work to be done. Feel like my progression has been slow, but getting better every day.”

For what it's worth, Bronny has been determined to prove his case that he is all set to make his own legacy in the NBA beyond the shadow of his legendary father.
“He’s a guy you can tell things to and they don’t let it affect their work or their attitude,” Redick added. “I told him I’m very high on him long-term being a part of our rotation.”
Also Read: “There’s more work to be done” — Bronny James makes candid admission about his NBA debut season
Bronny is getting started, and he and James are certainly one of the most talked-about father-son duos. Still, Bronny is climbing his ladder to make his name heard in the league and among Lakers fans.