Bronny James has earned quality rotation minutes for the shorthanded Los Angeles Lakers in their first-round Western Conference playoff series against the Houston Rockets.
While the sophomore guard has only scored in two of four games thus far as LA has seized a commanding 3-1 series lead, Golden State Warriors veteran forward Draymond Green has been impressed by what he’s seen from the 21-year-old.
Draymond Green ‘Shouts Out’ Bronny James As Lakers Near Unlikely 1st-Round Series Victory
After splitting time between LA and the NBA G League for most of the season, Bronny carved out more consistent playing time heading into the playoffs.
With Lakers backcourt stars Luka Dončić (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) sidelined over the first four games of the team’s Round 1 series, Bronny has once again been called upon to provide a spark off the bench.
Typically subbing in during the second quarter, the defensive-minded guard has seen his minutes and impact gradually increase. While LA dropped Sunday’s Game 4 road matchup 115-96, Bronny provided perimeter defense and playmaking, while knocking down a 3-pointer and converting a difficult late-game layup.
That marked Bronny’s second consecutive 5-point effort after going scoreless in Games 1 and 2. He also recorded 4 assists in Game 4, including dishing two highlight-worthy alley-oop passes.
Speaking on the latest edition of “The Draymond Green Show,” Green first urged Bronny’s father, Lakers star forward LeBron James, to “outsmart” the Rockets in Wednesday’s Game 5 home showdown to close out the series.
After breaking down the 22-time All-Star’s IQ advantage over a Kevin Durant-less Houston squad, Green took an opportunity to give Bronny his flowers.
“By the way, shout out to Bronny. So much criticism for Bronny over the course of his career. He’s been the 13th to 15th man all year, and he’s playing great playoff minutes,” Green began.
“He’s playing great playoff basketball. So, you gotta give him a lot of credit, and man, how dope is it to see a man and his son playing in the playoffs together in the NBA? That’s so fire, like unbelievable. Unbelievable. What a feeling. So, shoutout to Bronny. Bronny’s had a really good series. When he’s been called upon, he’s been ready.”
The four-time NBA champion also lauded Lakers coach JJ Redick for showing trust in Bronny down the season’s stretch run, allowing the youngster to build his confidence.
“Shoutout to JJ Redick, getting in those games down the stretch. When games were on the line, he was on the floor, and you can see it,” Green gushed. “It’s translated. So, shoutout to Bronny, man. Keep going, I love to see it. All the haters, keep hating. I love to see it.”
Reaves is reportedly “optimistic” about making his highly anticipated return in Game 5, casting some doubt on Bronny’s role moving forward. However, after logging a plus-minus of plus-7 across 32 playoff minutes thus far, the 2024 No. 55 pick may have secured his spot in Redick’s rotation.
