Bronny James was quite close to landing in Phoenix before he could make his way to Hollywood. Before the draft, multiple possibilities could have taken James Jr. away from his father. One of those possibilities was Phoenix, as the franchise was interested in drafting the teen. Looking at the draft board, if Bronny had been a first-rounder, the Suns could have been favorites to land him. There are a few reasons why the Lakers wanted to draft James Jr., but the Suns actually showed interest in the Trojan.

Recently on Pat McAfee’s show, Suns’ owner, Mat Ishbia talked about the possibility of drafting Bronny. “I don’t know exactly where Bronny wanted to go. We really liked Bronny, we thought he was a good player, I know the Lakers drafted him. I hope he has a great career, he’s got a great basketball IQ, he does a lot of great things. And he’s got a lot of pressure to be the son of one of the greatest of all time. He’s got pressure on him. So, we thought he might be a good fit here in Phoenix. Obviously, the Lakers drafted him, I wish him the best. But, we feel good.”, said Ishbia.

For a player who has a lot to learn, the Lakers seem to be a great fir for him. Given LeBron‘s presence along with JJ Redick, Bronny will have a lot of guidance along the way. Whereas in Phoenix, the team is struggling to become a serious threat in the West. For someone like Bronny on the roster, the amount of exposure wouldn’t have been sufficient for him to learn and get used to the NBA pace. At the end of the day, Bronny as a Laker benefits both him and the franchise.

Fast forward to the present, Bronny James is facing even more scrutiny following his Summer League performance. Yes, the teen hasn’t been shooting consistently nor has he been a good defender. But then again, James Jr. is a learner and will look to adapt over time. Regardless, the rookie has a lot to look forward to in this Summer League. And after all, he has a lot of expectations on his shoulders to become the best player he possibly can in his rookie year.

Bronny James will be a highlighted rookie

Of course, there are first-rounders, anticipated prospects, and other youngsters who are yet to prove their game. However, playing alongside his father and a fan-favorite coach, Bronny can expect a sold-out crowd in all of his home games. He will have all the spotlight in his rookie year, which should be enough motivation to become his best version. There is a lot of room for improvement but with time, he will get comfortable with the pace and game style.

It will be interesting to see Bronny James improve while playing with veterans. The Summer League is not even halfway to its tenure and it wouldn’t be wise to criticize Bronny to judge his performance so quickly. If Bronny James manages to develop into a consistent 3-and-D player, his talents will definitely be a highlight. What are your thoughts on Bronny’s draft? Do you think the Suns should have pushed to bring him to Phoenix? Let us know in the comments.

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