{"id":84220,"date":"2025-07-30T08:03:16","date_gmt":"2025-07-30T08:03:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=84220"},"modified":"2025-07-30T08:03:16","modified_gmt":"2025-07-30T08:03:16","slug":"update-new-bronny-james-mentor-is-exactly-what-lakers-fans-should-want","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=84220","title":{"rendered":"Update: New Bronny James mentor is exactly what Lakers fans should want"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Gabe Vincent has seemingly taken Bronny James under his wing, and that’s perfect for the Los Angeles Lakers youngster.<\/div>\n<\/header>\n
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Los Angeles Lakers, Bronny James, Gabe Vincent, Miami Heat | Thearon W. Henderson\/GettyImages<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Gabe Vincent has seemingly taken Bronny James under his wing, and of all the players on the Los Angeles Lakers, he\u2019s the one fans should want mentoring him. If anyone knows how to make the most of being underrated and working from the bottom up, it\u2019s Vincent, who\u2019s had to do that over the course of his career. And he spoke about how James\u2019 past can help him moving forward.<\/p>\n

“Having the game taken away from you at a younger age in the way he did, whether it be injury or whatever it was, I think it gave him a different appreciation,” Vincent told\u00a0Dave McMenamin of ESPN. “I think it forces you to have a different kind of fight. It puts a chip on your shoulder. Everyone needs a chip, but it gives you a different kind of belief in yourself as you’re battling back. You kind of have to climb uphill. And so that builds a lot of resolve.”<\/em><\/p>\n

He will be a great mentor for James.<\/p>\n

How can Gabe Vincent help Bronny James?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

McMenamin noted that, since James entered the league, he and Vincent have become good friends.<\/p>\n

\u201cFailure, of course, is a relative term for James,\u201d McMenamin wrote. \u201cAfter going into cardiac arrest two years ago because of a congenital heart defect, requiring surgery that left a 6-inch scar down the center of his chest, wins and losses on a basketball court take on a different scope. Lakers guard Gabe Vincent, with whom James has grown close, sees the experience as a valuable mental edge for his teammate.<\/em><\/p>\n

Obviously, what James went through at USC goes far beyond basketball. But from a basketball perspective, Vincent is the exact player James should want showing him the ropes at the NBA level.<\/p>\n

Though he\u2019s not a superstar, Vincent has carved out a fairly consistent role at the NBA level, despite dealing with some injuries. After going undrafted, he proved himself, earning regular minutes with the Miami Heat.<\/p>\n

And as he grew, so did his role. He was a huge part of the Heat\u2019s run to the 2023 NBA Finals, eventually earning himself a contract with the Lakers.<\/p>\n

As James attempts to navigate life in the NBA, the best role for him will be as a 3-and-D guard who can handle the ball a little bit. That\u2019s effectively the role Vincent has made for himself, acting as a pest on defense.<\/p>\n

While he may not be an elite NBA player, Vincent has played consistent minutes for two different NBA franchises after going undrafted. If there is anyone who can teach James about how to find a role for himself and grind his way to success from the bottom of the NBA, it\u2019s Vincent.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Bronny James’ incredible self-awareness is a massive gift for the Lakers<\/h1>\n
The Los Angeles Lakers are getting exactly what they need from Bronny James in Summer League…<\/div>\n<\/header>\n
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Golden State Warriors v Los Angeles Lakers | Michael Owens\/GettyImages<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Bronny James knows exactly the type of player he needs to be in order to crack next season’s rotation and silence the critics in Los Angeles. The soon-to-be second-year guard showed some incredible self-awareness leading up to the Los Angeles Lakers’ Summer League debut.<\/p>\n

“I can’t lose that defensive drive, that will get me on the floor,” James\u00a0told Dan Woike. “There’s gonna be guys that can score 15, 20 a game. I’m most likely not gonna be that guy right now. But to get myself on the floor, I have to be a defensive menace, and that’s my main focus.”<\/em><\/p>\n

This response was given in relation to being asked whether his approach would change after the encouraging displays of offense that Bronny showcased down in the NBA G League. James was open to upping the aggression on that end, but not at the cost of what will earn him playing time in the NBA.<\/p>\n

The maturity showcased by the bench guard is incredibly encouraging to hear. The success of the younger James on the Lakers roster becomes easier to root for with each passing day. Bronny’s mindset continues to reassure the team at every step to not\u00a0give up on his future\u00a0in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

Summer League development will be key focus of offseason for Bronny<\/h2>\n

James did not appear in\u00a0the Lakers’ first game of the California Classic against the Golden State Warriors. It ultimately ended up being an 89-84 loss for Los Angeles to tip-off their Summer League schedule.<\/p>\n

The Lakers have confirmed, however, that their young guard will be on the roster. It will only be a matter of time before fans can watch the 2024 second-round pick in action.<\/p>\n

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