Jeanie Buss made the decision to draft Bronny James

Jeanie Buss was reportedly the person who decided that the Los Angeles Lakers were going to draft Bronny James, according to Rich Paul.

“Look, Jeanie Buss decided that she’s making this call, and she’s been able to see Bronny in all aspects not only from a basketball perspective but also from a character perspective,” said Paul. “And he has everything that aligns with the Laker brand. And so, you have to make that type of call. At the end of the day, we’re not going to spend too much time on that. Bronny has to work his way, and he will.”

Some might be convinced that James’ father LeBron, who has played for the Lakers for the past six seasons and seemingly holds tons of influence within the organization, made the final call to draft his son. However, it seems like that wasn’t the case.

The younger James was drafted by the Lakers with the 55th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, a move that many saw coming.

How has Bronny James performed at Summer League?

Jul 12, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James (9) sits on the bench during the second half against the Houston Rockets at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports

It’s been a bit of a struggle for the younger James during NBA Summer League with the Lakers. In four games, the University of Southern California product is averaging 4.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game while knocking down just 22.6 percent of his shots from the field. He has also missed all 15 of his 3-pointers.

What’s been made clear is that he still has some developing left before becoming a clear-cut rotation player in the NBA. Something important to note is that he doesn’t seem to be bothered by the idea of playing in the G League to develop a bit more.

Bronny James is open to playing in the G League

"I’m just looking forward to any basketball I play – no matter what level I’m playing at."

(Via @DanWoikeSports ) pic.twitter.com/KSl2z0xe0q

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 13, 2024

That says a lot about his character and shows that he’s willing to work hard to prove he belongs in the NBA. It’s going to be very important for him to get lots of reps during his rookie season since he missed part of his freshman year in college after suffering cardiac arrest during an offseason practice.

Buss is likely very happy that she was able to give both the younger and elder James the chance to share the court together as teammates and not opponents. The two of them sharing the court together as teammates for the first time will undoubtedly be a memory they cherish for the rest of their lives.

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