Renowned NBA coach believes Bronny James will have a long and successful NBA career

The Los Angeles Lakers appear to have a promising rookie on the roster in guard Dalton Knecht, who scored 35 points in a preseason overtime win over the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night.

But the other half of their rookie class, Bronny James, is being pursued much more heavily than a typical second-round pick this season thanks to his relationship with his father and teammate LeBron James. The younger James' rookie season raises a big question: Can he carve out a career in the NBA?

Chris Brickley, one of the most renowned basketball coaches who has worked with stars like Suns forward Kevin Durant, long-time forward Carmelo Anthony and Connecticut guard Paige Bueckers, believes the 20-year-old has what it takes.

“He wants to get better,” Chris Brickley said of James to Bleacher Report’s Justin Robertson. “I think he's a lot better than people think. From his ball handling to his shooting to his athleticism to his IQ, he is much higher than people give him credit for. I think he’s going to have a long career in the NBA.”

James, who averaged 4.8 points per game in his only collegiate season at USC, didn't exactly put up great numbers in the preseason.

His best game came Thursday night against Phoenix, when he scored four points on 2-of-4 shooting in 17 minutes. But in the four games prior, James scored a total of four points on 2 of 16 shooting and five turnovers.

Bronny's career is just beginning, but it's clear that it will take some time for him to adjust to the speed of the NBA – just like any other rookie.