Bronny James will step into his third NBA campaign under amplified pressure to make a legitimate rotation-player case for the Los Angeles Lakers after the exodus of his legendary father, LeBron James, from Hollywood.
Los Angeles grabbed the 21-year-old guard with the 55th selection in the 2024NBA Draft, and he’s spent a significant portion of his initial two seasons between the G League and the NBA’s best talent.
James has played 69 games as an NBA player, averaging 2.7 points (2.7/2.9/1.4 in G League), 0.6 rebounds (0.7/0.6/0.7) and 1.1 assists (1.9/1.7/2.1) on 37.4% shooting (34.5% from 3-point distance).
The 6-4 playmaker’s averages haven’t been enough to quiet the ongoing discourse among those who question whether he’ll eventually earn a stable role at the Association level.
His chances this season could be complicated by the Lakers bolstering their backcourt by drafting Slovenia’s Luka Doncic, along with a strong free-agent addition of Collin Sexton and trading for Matisse Thybulle.
Still, Los Angeles demonstrably expressed faith in its first-round 2024 draft pick by guaranteeing his third rookie-contract season and opting to keep him beyond their Father’s Day departure. With LeBron no longer having the Lakers’ locker room focus solely on their history-making son-father tandem, Bronny James may well get additional space to develop.
James is now entering the final guaranteed season of his rookie contract, and Los Angeles has the choice of a 2027-28 team option.
He’ll try to use the upcoming season to carve out an NBA career once and for all and shut down the detractors.
