After a sporadic Summer League, the latter of which looked spirited for Bronny James, there was some hope for his performances in preseason. However, the 20-year-old was unable to replicate the late success he found. Similar to his NBA start, the second-round pick didn’t get any of his seven three-pointers to fall. Furthermore, the inherited acumen couldn’t translate to an in-game simulation, with James recording more turnovers than assists in four games.

Despite being the 55th pick, there is sizeable buzz that cloaks Bronny James. Some can be linked to him being LeBron James‘ son. “Man, Bronny definitely better than some of these cats I’ve been watching on league pass today,” these words from The Akron Hammer further pile up the expectations. While he remains immune to the noise, the reverberations are getting loud. With that in mind, Rob Parker feels he hasn’t even seen “decent” play from the 20-year-old yet and made a rattling comparison to former Knicks player, Jeremy Lin.

“Just looking at how he looks. Looking at the stats, looking at what’s going on, Bronny James is Jeremy Lin without the epic two weeks. That’s how big the hype was for Jeremy Lin,” he said on the Fox Sports Show.

The sarcasm hits you in the face. Linsanity became famed in the two weeks it lasted. The former Laker posted 25 points per game and battled the possibility of being out of the league. Jeremy Lin too hailed from a background like Bronny James. In fact, he came into the league as an undrafted point guard. But those two weeks completely transformed the trajectory of his career.

The Lakers draft pick’s case differs in the sense that he entered the league with large expectations solely due to his last name. But even though a second-round pick, his production has been subpar, considering the regular opportunities that have been provided for him to ramp up and get into a rhythm. “Can’t make a shot like you know you are not doing the other that people were trying to give you credit for. Like, you look lost out there,” the seasoned analyst claimed on The Odd Couple.

The pressing matter now is, what’s next for Bronny?

Development and a vision are in the path of Bronny James

It’s a tough time for Bronny James currently. Apart from his challenging time on the court, the media hasn’t shown any mercy either. But it’s weird to think that the 20-year-old has been impressive in drills but not in the games. The reason behind it can be attributed to two key factors.

While JJ Redick has asked him to be a “pest” on defense, the developing guard is still trying to find his role with the Purple and Gold. The lost sensation somewhat stems from the sole instruction of honing his defensive play. The rookie HC, who is seen as a visionary and an analytical junkie has a vision that he sees with James’ skill set.

It’s linked to OKC’s Lu Dort, a hound that can disrupt plays with his suffocating pressure. Through the developmental plans, that’s what JJ Redick envisions the younger James can mold himself to be. “Like his impact—you can’t get into your offense sometimes. The shot clock winds down because of his ball pressure. He literally blows up entire plays because of that pressure. And I really believe this, Bronny eventually will be that guy,” the former Clipper said.

Of course, this remains easier said than done. Even though Bronny might possess the tangibles to attain such a skill set, he is still trying to find comfort in the pressuring atmosphere in arenas. “Just going out there and getting reps, [I] feel like that’s the most important thing, grow my confidence and get more comfortable when I’m out there playing ’cause I feel good,” he assuringly said.

It’s hard to make any defense for the youthful prospect at this moment. So far, this showings haven’t been intriguing. But given his strive to keep working and the willingness to develop through any means possible, James’ outlook treads in the right direction. At the end of the day, success generally starts with feeling positive in one’s preparations.

The 20-year-old is scheduled to spend considerable time in the G-League. There, he will have the opportunity to not only play a larger role on offense but also cultivate those defensive habits that he wishes to possess. Still young, and frankly a raw prospect, Bronny James has a long way to go before being league-ready it seems.

How quickly he acclimates himself to the game remains unknown.