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Lakers star LeBron James said the only thing that matters this summer for his son Bronny is “stacking days” of training, practices, studying videos and games. (Steve Marcus / Associated Press)
As LeBron James sat in the upper balcony of the practice facility at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, where Team USA is holding its training camp ahead of the Summer Olympics, James answered questions as an Olympian and as a Laker.
After he walked down the stairs and was handed a phone with Bronny James’ first summer league bucket cued up, he became a dad.
“Come on, man, that’s tough. That’s tough,” James said with a big grin after pressing play. “Get loose.”
James’ mind was in a couple different places at once Saturday. He’d just wrapped his first practice with Team USA basketball’s version of “The Avengers,” a roster with Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis and the rest of the NBA’s biggest American stars.
But in San Francisco, James’ son, Bronny, made his pro debut for the Lakers in their game against the Sacramento Kings in the California Classic.
James said people shouldn’t read anything into how Bronny performs this summer in terms as to how it affects his long-term value. Summer basketball, he said, is more about adjusting.
“I just hope for [him to get] his feet wet in the NBA — the pace of the game, the speed of the game, the physicality of the game,” James said. “But what he does in the California Classic and Summer League, it doesn’t matter if he plays well and it doesn’t matter if he doesn’t play well. I just want him to continue to grow. Practices, film sessions, his individual workouts.
“You can’t take anything stat-wise from the California Classic and Summer League and bring it once the season starts. The only thing that matters is him getting better and stacking days.”
James still looked emotional talking about the Lakers drafting his son with the No. 55 pick, a moment, he said, that’s a “dream come true for me.”
“To see my son, to be able to be in the NBA alone, it’s always been a dream of his,” James said. “And for us to be there side by side, a lot of words are…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/lebron-james-says-bronnys-summer-221409299.html
Author : LA Times
Publish date : 2024-07-06 22:14:09
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