In what was an embarrassing moment for the media, their double-stand when it comes to Bronny James was exposed. And who was on the other end? None other than one of the top projected picks for the NBA draft, the No. 2 pick, Alexandre Sarr.

In Tuesday’s loss to Portland, Sarr had a historically forgettable shooting night. The French rookie finished the night on 0-of-15 shooting. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, “it was the most field goal attempts by a player without a make in a summer league game since at least 2017.”

We all know the underwhelming performance of Bronny James in his four games in the Summer League. The last matchup was against the Boston Celtics and, much like Sarr’s, it was one which James Jr. would rather forget. But of course, the 19-year-old’s performance was heavily ridiculed. Hilariously enough, it was the opposite for Sarr.

Take a look at what this X account, BronnyMuse, has to say. Bronny James was tagged with terms like “Nepotism,” “Trash,” and “Doesn’t deserve a spot.” In stark contrast, Alex Sarr’s off-night has comments like, “It’s just summer league,” “Give him time to adjust,” and “At least he had 8 rebounds.”

Of course, none of these negative comments are new. It has followed the teenager for quite a long time. However, the fact they are coming in because it’s got more to do with the ‘James’ surname rather than based solely on his performances is where the lines blur. Sarr’s off-shooting nights weren’t limited to just the latest matchup. In his first two games against the Rockets and Hawks, Alex Sarr went 4-of-14 and 4-of-12, respectively.

His offensive struggles continued as Tuesday night saw him miss all his triples (7) and both his free throws. Many opined that for someone who was a No.2 pick, these numbers seem somewhat disappointing. However, it does kind of show a flaw in judgment. To arrive at a conclusion based on just three or four games seems a little too less of a sample size.

And we are not talking just about Alex Sarr or Bronny James. It goes for every rookie who plays in the Summer League. The transition from a college atmosphere to an NBA one can hardly be easy. And how much harder would it be for a kid who missed time because of a critical health issue?

How has Bronny James been doing so far?

Simply put, his stats do not jump out at you. It closely resembles his USC average. Then again, that number is from four summer league games (4.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.3 steals) as opposed to the 25 games he played with the Trojans. His time with USC ended with a stat line of 4.8 points, 2.1 assists, and 2.8 rebounds.

So, in a way, he’s been doing better, wouldn’t you say?

Not to mention, No. 9 has been showcasing solid defense. Bronny’s best defensive game happened against the Miami Heat on Wednesday when he recorded an impressive 3 blocks, 2 steals, and 5 boards. While Rich Paul had made it clear that there weren’t going to be any G League affiliations for Bronny James, the young guard in question, though, seemed to be ready for any assignment as long as it improved his game.

And the teenager had no qualms in admitting it, either. “I just feel like I’m in a little slump right now. I’m just looking forward to any basketball I play, no matter what level I’m playing at,” James said after the Lakers’ opening game loss to Houston in Vegas.

Before you go, though, be sure to check this video of Leonardo Armato’s take on the deadly duo, Shaq and Kobe. Don’t forget to check back in for more such updates from our ES Fancast!