Since Bronny James made appearances for the Los Angeles Lakers in the preseason games, it has been evident that he needs to refine his game and build up his confidence against elite competition if he ever wants to make an impact in the NBA.

Unsurprisingly, when he was assigned to the G-League, the former USC Trojan was unfazed by the criticism. Instead, he focused on improving his skill set, a commitment that has now led Gilbert Arenas to boldly claim that James Jr. practically owns the G-League.

Speaking on his podcast, “Agent Zero” laughed off at Bronny’s naysayers, citing how most fans wouldn’t even recall the names of players in the lower division; younger James’ performances have consistently drawn attention and praise from everyone, such has the diligent hard work put in by a second-round pick.

Bronny gets huge praise from Arenas

Through his 11 games with the South Bay Lakers, the young guard has showcased his determination to prove he deserves minutes with the NBA team. He is averaging 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 5.5 assists while shooting just over 37 percent from the three-point line. Moreover, his recent performance of dropping a career-high 39 points on 67 percent shooting from the field has only further fueled the excitement around his growth.

Acknowledging this, Arenas laughed off Bronny’s naysayers, emphasizing how the Ohio native is the main reason the G-League is being mentioned online. Furthermore, he also commended James Jr. for effectively turning the initial criticism about his struggles in the league into motivation, silencing those who doubted his mettle day in and day out.

“They should name the G-League the Bronny League because he’s f***ng them up. I mean, he is really dominating. Have we heard about anybody else’s performance? He is the G-League,” Arenas said. “You know how I know he’s playing so well in the G-League? When the excuse is, ‘Oh, it’s just the G-League.’ Oh! Now it’s just the G-League?.. Who is selling out arenas? Who is selling the jersey sales? If they drop a shoe, who gonna be No. 1 in the G-Leagie in shoes?”

James Jr. is fighting for a role on the Lakers

While it is difficult to see Bronny playing a significant role for the Lakers in the upcoming playoffs, especially since the Purple and Gold are still fine-tuning their best lineup and strategy, his steady development has certainly caught the franchise’s attention.

Unless an injury opens up a spot in the rotation, bringing Bronny into the mix right now could disrupt the team’s rhythm, especially with coach JJ Redick’s team chasing a higher seed in their remaining regular-season games.

Nevertheless, Bronny’s performance this season has sent a clear message to the Lakers’ front office: He wants them to trust in his abilities. As he continues to improve without creating a fuss or nagging on social media, the 20-year-old is now positioning himself to play a meaningful role for the team in the future — potentially in the post-LeBron era.

Who knows, the 6’2″ guard could be one of those role players who prove to be the x-factor behind Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic.