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Iman Shumpert compares Bronny James to the former Lakers guard

Iman Shumpert compares Bronny James to the former Lakers guard

Bronny James, the son of Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, now has two NBA preseason games under his belt. Although he struggled offensively in both contests, he showed some defensive potential as he blocked three shots in his first such game on Friday against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Perhaps the best thing the younger James has to offer is the fact that he has a healthy and selfless attitude, according to multiple reports. Unlike many people in our society who come from very privileged backgrounds, he doesn't seem to be self-entitled, arrogant or self-absorbed.

Iman Shumpert, who played with the elder James on the Cleveland Cavaliers a few years ago, compared the younger James to another Lakers guard prospect who was hugely hyped after graduating from a local college – Lonzo Ball.

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“People don’t give Lonzo Ball enough credit,” Shumpert said. “Even though he has had his ups and downs, he plays a team game. He is able to involve other players. He has the ability to make people better, and I think Bronny does a great job at that. He does a great job of being able to do it. “Stay in rhythm without throwing people out of rhythm. They don't need a lot of touching to get going. And he doesn't play a pretty efficient game. In the decision-making positions that he has to take over time – if it really means something – we're going to see a really quick learning curve.

Like the younger James, Ball attended high school in the Los Angeles area and had a well-known father. Ball played one season at the University of California, Los Angeles, and although some were skeptical about his chances of becoming a star in the NBA, the Lakers selected him No. 2 overall in the 2017 draft.

However, it didn't even come close to living up to the hype. Many thought he would become a franchise player and even a future Hall of Famer, but he did his best as a borderline point guard. Frequent injuries eventually derailed his career and he has not played since the 2021/22 season.

But when Ball was healthy, he was a very unselfish player, eager to get his teams to play a fast-paced attack on offense and get his teammates involved while also making an impact defensively.

The younger James doesn't quite have Ball's playmaking ability or ability to assert himself in the open field. But Shumpert believes his past struggles are all part of the process.

“Because of where he grew up in this household – and I'm sure they watched a lot of tapes – but I just watched the kid play this summer. “When you make mistakes, that's all part of it, a “Being a newbie,” Shumpert says of Bronny’s struggles. “Y’all are doing this because he’s LeBron’s kid and he’s supposed to be perfect – but he’s not. Once we all get over that and accept that his career is going to be a good career – whether anyone likes it or not – he's going to be a good professional.

Both members of the James family got to take part in an extremely rare performance in LA's preseason game against the Phoenix Suns on Sunday. The two were on the court together for a few minutes early in the second quarter, which was undoubtedly a heartwarming moment for many family-oriented fans.

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