LeBron James felt pride watching his son, Bronny, play against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Las Vegas for the Los Angeles Lakers summer league team. The audience noticed his improved performance as he scored 13 points and led the Lakers to a victory, 93-89. He also recorded 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks. No doubt, James stated, “As a family, obviously we’re just proud of the fact that he’s even at this point.” He watched Bronny play from the UK- that’s where Team USA will practice for the next six days!

Bronny’s struggles aren’t new. Everyone who’s followed his journey knows about his cardiac arrest episode and how it halted his progress last year. So, amid all the speculations that he simply isn’t as good as his father, the James family was happy to see him improve.

So even if Bronny could not score in double digits in the first four games, his father wasn’t one to worry. “It doesn’t matter if he plays well, it doesn’t matter if he doesn’t play well … I mean, he’s 19 years old, so he has so much room to grow … He has so much more to learn, but the best thing, he just keeps his head down and just stays focused,” LeBron James told The Athletic on July 19.

Further, he made a big promise. “So the best will continue to come as he continues to work and continues to get better and better.”

LeBron James might be on to something here. While people took note of Bronny in the game against the Cavaliers, his performance against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday was also worth watching. The #55 pick scored 12 points on 5-of-11 shooting from the floor and 2-of-5 from deep. He helped the Lakers beat Atlanta, 87-86.

His mother, Savannah, has been present in Las Vegas to support him, despite the intense heat.

So what does Bronny have to say about his improving performances? “Just trying to keep my confidence … Just going out there and playing my game. I feel like I know the right way to play, so if I go out there and play my game every game, results like that will come.”

While Bronny is busy with the summer league, LeBron James will walk into his fourth Olympics. He is chasing a third gold medal. Will we see Bronny do this someday? We don’t know. Some believe he isn’t NBA-ready. And the summer league games may have provided evidence for that.

Before the Atlanta Hawks game, the Lakers were on a five-game losing streak. As they were struggling, some even dubbed them as the franchise’s worst summer league team! While the team looked disorganized, Bronny couldn’t find his rhythm. He went 6-for-26 from the field and 0-for-12 from three-point range in his first three games.

He particularly struggled in the summer league game against the Boston Celtics: Two points on 1-for-5 shooting, three rebounds, one assist, two turnovers, and three fouls. However, Bronny’s performance against the Cavaliers and Hawks hinted that he had the potential. Like LeBron James, NBA legend Shaquille ‘O Neal too has faith that Bronny’s game will turn around for good.

Shaquille O’Neal understands what Bronny James is going through…

It’s usual to see LeBron James, shield Bronny James and keep him motivated. But several NBA legends have spoken about the 19-year-old with a tone of patience. Reggie Miller asked the NBA fraternity to take their foot off the criticism. But Shaq is the only one who truly knows what Bronny James is facing due to the similarities with his own son Shareef.

“Keep playing hard, Bronny. Uncle Shaq loves you,” said Big Diesel.

Like Bronny, Shareef O’Neal also suffered from congenital heart disease which required an open heart surgery. After the procedure, even the seven-footer struggled in his Summer League with the Lakers. Likewise, while James has started to show his explosiveness, there’s a lot more in store for the USC alumnus.

Bronny James has a reputed basketball arsenal. The man was a McDonald’s All-American for a reason. As LeBron James said, with time as he grows accustomed to the intensity of basketball again, his natural game will start to flow seamlessly. Until then, it is about being patient. What do you think?