Los Angeles Lakers fans will be surprised to learn of the team’s alleged plan for Bronny James next season.
Bronny’s rookie season for the Lake Show was filled with lots of headlines (and history), but the younger James didn’t see a ton of playing time, and the numbers reflect it: 2.3 points, 0.8 assists, and 0.7 rebounds per game in 27 games (per StatMuse).
The Lakers selected Bronny with the No. 55 overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft, but the 20-year-old wasn’t NBA-ready from the jump. Los Angeles wasn’t expecting Bronny to be an impact rookie out of the gate, especially given the former USC Trojan’s heart condition in 2023 that limited his college career. Bronny spent time in the G League honing his craft last season, and he dominated competition there, grabbing the basketball world’s attention in the process.
In 11 G League regular season games, Bronny averaged 21.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists. Amid Bronny’s successful run in the G, Lakers head coach JJ Redick commented on the guard’s confidence and potential.
“I think his confidence is growing,” Redick said. “I think the next step is just becoming an elite-conditioned athlete. Because when [he] does that, with his physical tools and his burst and his handle – and we think he’s going to be an above-average to really good NBA shooter – he’s going to have a chance to really make an impact.”
Bronny improved steadily throughout 2024-25, both in the G League and upstairs with the big boys. On March 20 in an NBA game versus the Milwaukee Bucks, Bronny once again put the basketball universe on notice when he dropped 17 points in 30 minutes to go along with five assists, three rebounds, and a rejection.
Bronny haters everywhere were silenced.
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And as Redick and the Lakers look ahead to Bronny’s sophomore season in 2025-26, there could be more nights like that Bucks game on the menu.
According to a new report from Athlon Sports’ Sean Deveney, a Western Conference executive believes the Lakers are planning to feature Bronny in their rotation next season.
“I don’t think there’s any doubt that’s their plan,” said the exec, per Deveney.
“I know the guy gets a lot of grief because of who his dad is, but we’ve seen a lot of tape on (Bronny) and the fact is, he was a lot better player in April than he was in October, and definitely in July.”
The executive predicted that Bronny could get up to 15 minutes of playing time per game in 2025-26.
And while Bronny is carving up defenders in the NBA, his younger brother, Bryce, will be balling at Arizona during his freshman college season. Bryce committed to Arizona and head coach Tommy Lloyd back on January 1.
By 2026, LeBron could have both of his sons on the Lakers.
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