Jaylen Brown responds to viral video allegedly criticizing Bronny James
Jaylen Brown was court side for Bronny James and the Los Angeles Lakers taking on the Boston Celtics in Summer League action Monday night.
Brown was caught on video allegedly saying “I don’t think Bronny is a pro.” Of course, the video has to be interpreted and if you’re able to read lips, he could be saying that.
Or Brown simply said something else, considering he wasn’t mic’d up. Brown took to Twitter to respond to any potential statement about James.
“It’s a flex to have your son alongside you in the nba it reflects greatness and longevity,” Brown wrote on Twitter. “Bronny has all the tools around him to be successful I look forward to watching his growth.”
Many social media users interpreted Brown claimed Bronny James would only be on the official roster next season due to his father, LeBron James.
Bronny James certainly took his lumps in early Summer League action. He played 25 minutes Monday night, shooting 1-of-5, scoring just two points and corralled three rebounds and one assist.
After also struggling on Friday, James was asked if he would be willing to spend time in the NBA G League this coming season. The former USC star and son of LeBron James said that he is open to it.
“I’m just looking forward to any basketball. It doesn’t matter what level I’m playing at,” James said.
Even though James has experienced some struggles early on, there’s still plenty of time for him to get better. He insists that he is getting more comfortable and more confident, but his shot just isn’t falling at the moment.
“I just feel like I’m in a little slump right now,” he said. “I’m getting more comfortable with the ball in my hands. I’m also getting comfortable guarding bigger guys. Every game is just getting more easy.”
All eyes have been on James during his summer league games with the Los Angeles Lakers. During the Lakers’ matchup against the Houston Rockets at the Las Vegas Summer League on Friday, Lakers head coach JJ Redick evaluated James’ performances, thus far.
“I thought the last game of the [California] Classic, defensively, he was terrific,” Redick said. “He had eight or nine possessions where, whether it was ball pressure or switching, just making plays defensively, that’s been a real point of emphasis in all my conversations in the times I have been with the team on the practice floor.
“We want him pressuring the ball. I told him yesterday, ‘If you get blown by and have 10 fouls, that’s on me. I want you up and pressuring the ball.’”
Matt Connolly contributed to this story.