Fresh off an 87-85 loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA 2K26 Summer League, the Los Angeles Lakers were ready. Not just for a win, but to prove that their roster was something to fear. And for the most part, they did on Saturday at the Thomas & Mack Center. Topped off by Cole Swider’s scintillating, game-high 21 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and one steal, the team was able to snatch a 94-81 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. Still, there was one name that expectedly stayed at the top of discussions: Bronny James.

With superstar LeBron James present courtside and keeping an eye on his son’s every move, the 20-year-old knew he had to deliver—especially after offensive struggles ruled heavy during his last game. Notably, during the Mavs clash, Bronny was only able to score just eight points on a lowly 25% shooting (2-for-8 from the field), while making just 1-0f-his 6 three-point attempts from beyond the arc. To add fuel to the fire, the player also missed a crucial three-pointer with less than four seconds remaining. However, as analyst Bergas Agung pointed out, “Bronny’s defensive effort against [Cooper Flagg] labeled as generational created significant praise.” The verdict was somewhat similar on Saturday.

On one hand, the youngster scored 14 points, shot 4-for-6 inside the arc and even handed out three assists in 24 minutes. However, when it came to efficiency, work definitely needed to be done—Bronny turned the ball over four times, shot 1-for-5 from 3, and was the only one of the team’s five starters with a negative plus-minus rating (-3). While that does seem troubling, Lindsey Harding is hardly worried. In fact, the coach even dished out some golden nuggets for improvement. Addressing the media in a post-game conversation, she began, “Yeah, we want him to play on the ball.”

“Especially in tight moments, I like the ball in his hands and I want him to make those decisions. You can go through as many drills as you want, but nothing beats live. When you’re live, you make your decisions. And then you also learn by film… Some were great. Some could be better, you know? So even after this, he will sit with his coach and watch his reads. Some are great, some can be better…But it comes with confidence.”

The coach also talked about Bronny’s hard fall in the fourth quarter. “He’s fine. He’s young. I mean, this is basketball…Could be a little bruise, but he continued playing, and he’s fine,” Harding said. Yep. That’s the verdict. Not even a sore hip could derail Bronny James from putting on a show. Harding then emphasized the importance of passing out of pick-and-rolls—not just hitting the big man, but reading the entire floor. “If the low man comes over, he sees the man in the corner, right? It’s the whole floor.”

Basically, Bronny’s at the basketball equivalent of learning to drive with a manual transmission… while the car’s on fire… and LeBron’s in the passenger seat grading you.

Bronny has all the support, now all he needs is execution

The King was present, and so were the cameras. LeBron James pulled up to Las Vegas Summer League like it was the NBA Finals, locked in, shades on, nodding approvingly every time Bronny touched the rock. And despite his uncertain future with the Lakers, there’s no doubt that one of LeBron’s biggest motivations to keep playing is watching—and mentoring—his son.

If there’s one takeaway from Harding’s thoughtful comments, it’s that decision-making—not stat lines—is what’ll make or break Bronny James in the long run. “Even this game, whether he made the shot or not, it’s not what it’s about. It’s about making the right read,” she said. That’s the kind of foundational coaching that transforms potential into actual stardom. And Bronny is listening. The willingness to learn is there. The athleticism is there. The defense is definitely there. And if the three-point shooting catches up? Watch out.

Bronny James is showing flashes of being more than just LeBron Jr. With a 14-point outing, defensive impact, and the kind of film-room feedback players dream of, the arrow is pointing up. He’s young, he’s fearless, and he’s learning in real time under a microscope. As Lindsey Harding said, “He missed it? No problem.”

It’s that kind of mindset—and mentorship—that could shape Bronny James into something special. Lakers fans, don’t panic over the missed threes just yet. The bigger picture’s still looking pretty