NBA teams are starting to slowly rile up into regular season mode. Through the preseason games, a fair estimate of where player development stands has come to light. The top pick, Zaccharie Risacher, made a strong impression in his only outing with the Hawks. But this hasn’t been the case for all rookies, even though they have played a better volume of games. In particular, Bronny James.

The eldest son of LeBron James, despite being the 55th pick, has all eyes on him. Head coach JJ Redick has highlighted his potential as a disruptive defender. However, with uncertainties surrounding his role, his NBA career hasn’t gotten off to a smooth start. While he shares a historic moment with his father, HoopsHype doesn’t appear to be impressed.

They recently released their preseason player rankings using their personalized Global Ratings. Risacher attained the spot as the top rookie so far, posting 18 points and 3 rebounds, aiding the Hawks to a win. The 20-year-old James doesn’t feature in their top 30. So far, his offensive struggles have been a cause of worry for the Lakers.

In three games, he has failed to record a three-pointer, one of his breakout skills during the NBA draft combine. Furthermore, with priority on defense, his net differential of -13.3 doesn’t reflect on vast improvement. However, it’s vital to read in between the lines. Although he has played in three games, Bronny James has only averaged 11.9 minutes per game.

The Lakers aren’t expecting him to be an impact-making rookie, but rather are focused on helping him reach his ceiling as a player. With that in mind, the goal for James Jr. hasn’t been about producing fascinating numbers.

Bronny James is still trying to find his role

Since his drafting, head coach JJ Redick has emphasized one primary responsibility for Bronny James: defense. Redick recognizes that James is still a developing prospect, and the goal is to make him the Lakers’ first major development project. Though James has much to learn, his “coachable” attitude has made him a pleasure for the rookie coach to work with, as the 20-year-old embraces the learning process.

In the latter part of the Summer League, Bronny James began to demonstrate his potential for developing a consistent outside shot and showed flashes of his inherited basketball IQ. However, in the preseason, his focus has shifted, with goals that differ significantly from those of his earlier competition. “JJ has told me to be as disruptive as possible, forcing me to disrupt the ball and pick up 94 feet, disrupt the ball screen, and stuff like that,” he said of his role.

With that in mind, Bronny James flourished in his first preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, leading the Lakers with three blocks. His subsequent games have focused more on refining his defensive role rather than contributing offensively for the Purple and Gold. Given these factors, it’s no surprise that he isn’t featured among the top rookies heading into the regular season. However, it shouldn’t be seen as a criticism of his progress.

Most of the first-year players have a distinguished role within their roster. Risacher is expected to score, Ighodaro of the Phoenix Suns can help facilitate the floor with three sensational scorers around him. But for Bronny, his identity is still unclear. His focus is “getting those reps in every game and trying to find my role”.

Therefore, it’s vital to expose Bronny James to the fast-paced NBA game to prepare his role for the future. Even if the shots aren’t falling, James Jr. is still getting his feet wet. He is learning what it takes to excel in his role on the court. For most of the season, he’s expected to spend time in the G-League to regain his tempo and further accentuate his skills.

Evaluating him after that can provide a rough picture of where he stands as an NBA player. For now, it appears that Bronny James is keen to grow and adapt in the league.