Oct 4, 2024; Palm Desert, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James (9) looks to pass against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second half at Acrisure Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images

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Embarrassing stats rank Bronny James last in NBA preseason with lowest plus/minus among 494 players

Bronny James has had a tough preseason, struggling with his shooting and averaging under a point per game, leaving fans questioning his readiness.

Bronny James’ NBA journey has had a rocky beginning. Across three preseason games, he’s logged 36 minutes on the court, during which time the Los Angeles Lakers have been outscored by 40 points.

This places him at the bottom of the league in plus/minus, ranking 494th out of all NBA players.

Bronny James has the LOWEST +/- of ALL preseason players (-40) 😭 pic.twitter.com/LjnZucjpQq
— BricksCenter (@BricksCenter) October 11, 2024

Bronny’s struggles go beyond just scoring. He’s turned the ball over five times while managing only one assist.

In his 11.9 minutes per game, he’s averaging 0.7 points, 1.0 rebounds, 0.3 assists, and 1.0 blocks, shooting a tough 1-for-11 from the field and missing all four of his attempts from beyond the arc.

Being a late-second round pick (55th overall) in the 2024 Draft, expectations shouldn’t be sky-high for the 20-year-old who recently came out of USC. But with the added pressure of being LeBron James’ son, the bar is inevitably set much higher.

Why Bronny James is struggling in the preseason

Bronny’s expected role in the NBA is a 3-and-D player with some playmaking. He’s compared himself to players like Derrick White and Jrue Holiday, but his shooting has been inconsistent.

He’s gone 0-for-4 from deep in the preseason, following poor shooting numbers from Summer League and college.

Bronny played 4 minutes and got 3 turnovers 😭 pic.twitter.com/K3kPFVWmxu
— BricksCenter (@BricksCenter) October 7, 2024

His finishing at the rim hasn’t been great either. Despite a 40.5-inch vertical, his height has made it difficult to score over bigger defenders.

His playmaking hasn’t helped, with just one assist and five turnovers in limited minutes.

Defensive flashes from Bronny James

While his offense has struggled, Bronny has shown defensive potential with three blocks, demonstrating why he’s often compared to Derrick White’s defense.

Takeaways from tonight’s game by Bronny James :

Displayed very good perimeter defense with 3 steals.

Looked confortable from the 3 point line as he went 2-2.

Bronny’s playmaking ability is REALLY underrated, has he can get 7 AST with ONLY 10% usage rate.

Underutilized a lot.… pic.twitter.com/HW6xSiDw3h
— BronnyMuse (@BronnyMuse06) February 2, 2024

He’s kept his feet moving well, staying in front of opponents, earning praise from Anthony Davis.

“He’s tough…defensive-minded, some great blocks… good with his hands with deflections and steals,” Davis said. “He’s still learning…figuring everything out. We have to realize that.”

James struggles to find his rhythm on the floor

Despite some defensive moments, Bronny hasn’t contributed much overall. The Lakers have been outscored by 40 points in his 36 minutes on the court, leaving him with the worst plus/minus in preseason.

Though his poor performance isn’t entirely on him, his shooting struggles and mistakes have been a factor.

“I just feel like I'm in a little slump right now”

– Bronny James pic.twitter.com/ptkxRnesjn
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) July 13, 2024

Preseason is for learning, but Bronny is likely headed to the G League for more development.

He’s still a talented prospect with a high draft grade, and though not ready for the NBA yet, there’s potential for him to grow into a solid player.

Image Credit: © Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images

Bronny James

Natasha Bose

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