ORLANDO, Fla. — Well, the glass-one-quarter-full perspective on the Bronny James Show this weekend is to say it could have been worse. But it certainly could have been better.

The NBA G League Winter Showcase came to Orlando, Fla., this weekend, and with the Los Angeles Lakers’ decision to assign James for this event, he immediately became the star attraction, with both games nationally televised.

This was a 20-year-old rookie playing his third month of professional basketball, and I’ve certainly seen more tragic performances from young prospects learning the hard way at this level. But on a court mostly filled with players whose NBA careers will be measured in 10-day increments, James failed to stand out and at times struggled to keep up.

He got off to a hot start in his first game Thursday en route to a 16-point, five-assist night but struggled badly in the second one (six points, seven assists, six turnovers) and was plagued by cringe ballhandling miscues in both. Single-game plus-minus is pretty unreliable, but James taking home a minus-13 in a game his team won by 16 on Saturday conformed with the general eye test.

Based on James’ other G League performances, these two games were not outliers. James drew attention earlier this month by scoring 30 points in a G League game against the Valley Suns, but that was far and away his best outing. In his other seven games at this level, he’s shot just 24 of 76 with an alarming turnover rate.

No, we don’t have this level of scrutiny for other late second-round round picks, many of whom have struggled just as badly or worse in their first two G League seasons (*cough* Maxwell Lewis *cough*). At least three players drafted ahead of James have been demonstrably worse in their G League minutes this season, and several others have failed to distinguish themselves as notably better.

But if you’re looking for something to get excited about, Lakers fans, I’m not sure I have much for you just yet.

Let’s start with the positives. James showed some flashes of pick-and-roll viability in his on-ball reps, especially when he could start the move with a hard dribble left around the screen. He was comfortable getting to a right-handed floater going that way and judicious about snaking it back to his right hand to either get to the rim or force a rotation and hit the big man.

In grab-and-goes and other transition situations, his hit-ahead passes were on point and caused problems for opponents. James also showed his two-footed leaping ability at times, including an impressive traffic rebound Saturday and a flying swat in transition.

Unfortunately, that didn’t offset the other areas in which he fell short. Generally a player ready to contribute at the NBA level will cook G League defenses pretty easily, especially an aspiring guard. James’ South Bay teammate Devonte’ Graham, for instance, rolled in off his couch and scored 24 on Saturday after going unsigned following his 2023-24 season in San Antonio.

For James, that did not happen. He struggled to control his dribble at several points, a red flag for a small guard who is listed at 6-foot-3. In Saturday’s second half, he committed the holy trinity of turnovers trying to bring the ball up against pressure, getting his dribble picked on one trip, failing to clear the backcourt in eight seconds on another and wandering back into the backcourt on a third. Asking him to play the point feels like a complete non-starter.

In the half court, he could work with a screen, but isolations were a different story. James has no wiggle to his game and couldn’t shake defenders in one-on-one matchups after switches and hasn’t established himself as a legitimate 3-point threat either on or off the ball. He made two of his eight attempts from 3 in Orlando and is 7-of-33 from distance in his G League season. Between that and his limited ability to get to the cup on his own steam, his true shooting percentage of 45.4 heading into Saturday was alarmingly poor.

Of perhaps equal concern is that James’ likely role at the NBA level would be as an athletic energy guy, but his motor just doesn’t seem to run that hot and cut out at several different points. James is a good athlete with a strong frame, but you don’t “feel” him in the course of a game because his activity level is so low. Notably, there were several moments when he lazed back in transition rather than sprinting back to interfere with an opposing break; off the ball, he wasn’t nearly as active or handsy as you would hope for a small guard.

In what is perhaps a related story, fatigue seemed to be a real issue for him in both games, especially after a few minutes on the court. It was only two games, but watching him here, it sure seemed like he’d start each stint on the court with two or three good minutes, and then his glitch rate would go through the roof soon after.

Ultimately, the takeaway from many here to chronicle his performance was to go ahead and get familiar with our surroundings, because we’ll probably be doing the same thing again next year. The same can be said of a lot of the players here, especially the late draft picks, but only one of them is the son of a legendary superstar.

(Photo of Bronny James: Scott Audette  / NBAE via Getty Images)

The status of Patrick Mahomes’ ankle was widely discussed leading up to Saturday’s game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans.

While there was some doubt during the week whether the star quarterback would play against the Texans, he was able to fully get through the Chiefs’ practice Thursday. 

Mahomes was cleared to play and finished Saturday’s 27-19 victory over Houston with 260 passing yards.

But the three-time Super Bowl winner turned some heads when he managed to stay on his feet after nearly being tripped and sprinted into the end zone for the first score of the game.

Mahomes was sidelined in the fourth quarter of the Chiefs’ Week 15 game against the Cleveland Browns. Backup quarterback Carson Wentz stepped in for Mahomes and finished the 21-7 win over the Browns with 20 passing yards.

DEION SANDERS SAYS HE’LL ‘MAKE SURE’ TRAVIS HUNTER PLAYS OFFENSE AND DEFENSE IN NFL

Mahomes’ 15-yard scramble Saturday marked the longest rushing touchdown of his career. Moments after Mahomes crossed the goal line, broadcaster Noah Eagle wondered, “What bum ankle?”

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws a pass during the first half against the Houston Texans at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Dec. 21, 2024. (Jay Biggerstaff/Imagn Images)

This was not the first time Mahomes dealt with an ankle injury. 

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes chews his mouth guard during warmups before a game against the Denver Broncos Nov. 10, 2024 in Kansas City, Mo.  (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann, File)

During the 2022 NFL postseason, Mahomes sustained what appeared to be a high ankle sprain in a divisional round playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. 

The win over the Texans improved the Chiefs’ record to 14-1. Kansas City had already clinched a playoff berth after winning the AFC West a ninth straight year.

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Don’t doubt the Eastvale Roosevelt Mustangs this basketball season. Runner-up to Harvard-Westlake last season in the Southern Section Open Division final, the Mustangs return most of their top players and gave everyone a reminder of how good they could be by winning the Tarkanian Classic Platinum Division championship on Saturday at Bishop Gorman High in Las Vegas.

Roosevelt (11-1) fell behind by as many as 15 points in the early going before handing Sherman Oaks Notre Dame (12-1) its first defeat 76-58. Brayden Burries, considered the best unsigned senior in California, was named tournament MVP and finished with 26 points. Issac Williamson had 19 points and Dominic Copenhagen 10.

Notre Dame trailed 35-34 at halftime and by 10 points after three quarters. Lino Mark received little playing time because of an apparent injury. Tyran Stokes had 20 points and 11 rebounds while Zachary White added 18 points for Notre Dame.

Redondo Union 79, Layton Christian 66: The Sea Hawks (10-1) took third place in the Platinum Division of the Tarkanian Classic. Hudson Mayes made 10 of 15 shots and finished with 24 points. SJ Madison added 18 points.

Leuzinger 75, Denver South 66: In overtime, Leuzinger won its division in the Tarkanian Classic. Joshua Garland scored 23 points and tournament MVP Malachi Knight had 17 points for 10-3 Leuzinger.

Seattle Rainier Beach 82, Westchester 74: Tajh Ariza scored 36 points in the loss for the Comets.

Chatsworth 75, Wilsonville (Ore.) 45: Alijah Arenas had 25 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the Chancellors (8-1) in Oregon. Tekeio Phillips added 13 points.

St. Pius X-St. Matthias 88, Arizona Basha 67: Harvard-bound Douglas Langford Jr. finished with 37 points.

Camarillo 76, Righetti 27: The Scorpions improved to 12-1 behind Jackson Yeates and Cajun Mike-Price, both of whom had 16 points.

Saugus 64, Palisades 62: Bryce Mejia made the game-winning basket for Saugus and finished with 17 points. Max Guardado led the way for the Centurions with 25 points.

Santa Margarita 87, Murrieta Valley 64: Kaiden Bailey made five threes and finished with 18 points and Drew Anderson added 18 points for the 8-1 Eagles.

Foothill 65, Ventura 42: Lorenzo Turner had 15 points for 10-3 Foothill.

Heritage Christian 67, Oakwood 23: Tae Simmons made all 15 of his shots and finished with 30 points for 12-0 Heritage Christian.

Girls basketball

Sierra Canyon 75, Nevada Democracy Prep 47: The unbeaten Trailblazers (8-0) won their division of the Tarkanian Classic. Center Emilia Krstevski led the way with 23 points.