Bronny James makes his Lakers case

Bronny James, still only 20 years old, has already made plenty of headlines. As the son of LeBron, he has often been used as a target for criticism against his father—especially when the Lakers selected him with the 55th pick in the last draft. It was a widely debated decision, though ultimately a low-risk one, given how late in the draft it was.

Fulfilling one of LeBron’s long-standing dreams, Bronny and his father became the first father-son duo to share both an NBA court and a jersey.

It was clear from the start that Bronny wasn’t NBA-ready. That’s why the Lakers, despite drafting him, waited until the 55th pick without making any moves to select him earlier. His agent, Rich Paul, who represents both Bronny and LeBron, reportedly influenced teams picking between 50 and 55 to pass on Bronny, ensuring he could reunite with his father in Los Angeles.

Bronny’s numbers showing promise

Naturally, this fueled plenty of discussion among fans and the media, many of whom were unfamiliar with Bronny’s skill set. He was a promising high school prospect but struggled at USC during a college season overshadowed by a serious heart condition that even put his basketball future in doubt.

Bronny was not prepared for the NBA and certainly isn’t a star (let alone comparable to his father). But he understands the game, possesses strong defensive instincts, knows how to maximize his offensive strengths, and makes good use of his body despite standing just 1.91 meters (6′3″).

His role with the Lakers has been minimal so far, but in the G-League, he has shown real promise. At just 20 years old, he is proving that he could eventually carve out a spot in an NBA rotation as a defense-focused role player. With the South Bay Lakers, he has averaged 17.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.4 assists.

If we isolate just the regular season portion of the G League—leading up to the playoffs in April—his numbers improve to 21.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 2 steals per game, all with solid shooting percentages. In his most recent outing against the Motor City Cruise, he recorded 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists.

Overall, his season has been highly encouraging. Lakers head coach JJ Redick has acknowledged his progress, saying, "His rookie season has been very productive. He has improved a lot—you can see it. The first year is tough, sometimes it takes three or four years. It’s like that when you can’t play every night, when you’re a second-round pick bouncing between the NBA and the G League…”

Related stories

Real Madrid

Madrid’s Courtois blow ahead of UCL derby

MLB

Yankees worried about Gerrit Cole

Despite the external noise and debates surrounding him, Bronny continues to develop. It’s too early to predict whether he will secure a long-term role in an NBA rotation—whether with the Lakers or another team—over the next few seasons (he is signed for three more years, with the final year as a team option). However, based on his G League performances and steady improvement, he is much closer to proving himself than many skeptics expected when he was drafted in 2024.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.