Bronny James is having a rough Summer League. Under the scrutiny of everyone in the world, the Los Angeles Lakers rookie struggled. His last game was a nightmare, as he airballed multiple shots. On Sunday, though, Bronny bounced back in emphatic fashion.

Against the Atlanta Hawks, Bronny James had his best outing yet. He scored 12 points on 5-of-11 shooting. He also made two of his five three-point attempts, the second one being a clutch shot to tie the game up. The Lakers held on for the win, giving them their first win in the Las Vegas Summer League.

Fans were quick to praise Bronny on social media following the win. A few people reminded the Lakers rookie’s critics that they were quick to pass judgment on James.

“He’s gonna be just fine. Confidence is everything. All a mental game,” Jeremy Kamali posted.

The younger James is playing under extreme circumstances. He’s playing for the Lakers while the shadow of his father looms over him. Those are some pretty high expectations for him. Slowly, he’s starting to realize his potential.

James was the 55th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Taken in the late second round, it’s no secret that one of the reasons why he was selected was for him to play with his father. That decision has been quite controversial, with some claiming he doesn’t deserve to be in the league.

Lakers guard Bronny James (9) competes against the Celtics at Las Vegas Summer League

Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports

Will Bronny be able to erase that doubt people have and prove he belongs in the NBA? He’s taken the first steps to doing that.