The harsh truth about Bronny James revealed: a tough one for LeBron to accept
The young player has quietly tiptoed through a season in which he was ultimately invisible.
No one is talking about Bronny James anymore. At first, there was a lot of noise—then came the whispers, and finally, silence. In the end, nothing was all that serious, and expectations have been met in a season that confirmed one clear truth: Bronny played in the NBA because his father wanted it that way. But his level is far from even the mid-tier of NBA competition. And once LeBron leaves—which he inevitably will, no matter how often he makes us believe otherwise—it’s going to be very difficult for Bronny to adapt.
None of this is Bronny’s fault. He’s done everything that’s been asked of him, including some creditable stints in the G League, though without any real continuity with the Lakers’ first team. That’s to be expected, given both his youth and his level of play. His first season has passed mostly under the radar, a reflection of the reality surrounding a player who entered the league with enormous spotlight but little impact.
Bronny made his NBA debut on October 22, 2024, coming off the bench in the second quarter when JJ Redick subbed in both Jameses during a win (now a distant memory) against the Timberwolves. He appeared in 27 games total, starting only once—on the final day of the regular season—and posted modest averages: 2.3 points, 0.7 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game. On October 30, against the Cavaliers, he scored his first basket: a mid-range jumper celebrated by the crowd in his native Ohio. His 6.7 minutes per game tell the story—he had a minimal role, mostly limited to garbage time. It’s what you’d expect from a player drafted 55th overall, a pick reportedly made at LeBron’s request and one the Lakers were happy to accommodate to stay in the superstar’s good graces.
It hasn’t all been bleak. In the G League, Bronny put up performances ranging from solid to impressive. He had standout moments with the South Bay Lakers, the team’s affiliate, particularly against the Santa Cruz Warriors, where he scored 39 points on an efficient shooting night (10-of-13 on twos, 4-of-8 from three, and 5-of-6 on free throws), along with 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals, and a block. Despite committing 7 turnovers, his overall showing was dominant—and afterward, he asked to be recalled to the NBA. But the reality remained: the best basketball league in the world was still a bit too much for him, despite being called up for nearly every game. Still, making it there at all is no small feat.
The 20-year-old failed to score in 13 of the 27 NBA games he played but did show glimpses of talent. His best performance came on March 20, in a blowout loss to the Bucks (118–89 at Crypto Arena), where he was on the court for nearly 30 minutes and scored 17 points, adding 3 rebounds and 5 assists on an efficient 7-of-10 shooting, including 2-of-4 from three.
In the final game of the regular season, he logged a season-high 38 minutes. Although his shot wasn’t falling (2-of-10), he contributed across the board with 4 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals. He even made his playoff debut, playing the last three minutes of Game 1 and the final 38 seconds of Game 3—though he didn’t score in either.
In the end, what many already suspected has been confirmed: Bronny is a decent G League player, but his size (1.88m) makes life tough in the NBA. He has solid court vision, lateral quickness, and active hands for steals. But he’s also turnover-prone, struggles from deep (just 28.1% from three), lacks consistent shooting overall, and his athleticism doesn’t quite match his ball-handling. He can defend and still has room to grow, but let’s be honest—this was all set in motion by LeBron’s influence, and the Lakers went along to keep their star happy.
LeBron has said that wherever he finishes his career, his son will go with him. Bronny has essentially been the entry fee for watching a legend’s final act. Not everyone gets to say they played in the NBA—even fewer get there in their debut season. That alone is an achievement. But beyond that? It is what it is: nothing special.
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