Bronny James is heading into a key third season with the Lakers, and his path to more minutes is starting to look pretty clear: bring pressure on defense, handle the ball when needed, and make life miserable for opposing guards.
At practice, James said JJ Redick’s staff has made full-court pressure a point of emphasis, and that’s where he believes he can carve out a bigger role.
“I think just building on defensive instinct, how I was in the playoffs, picking up full court, taking up the ball forward and emphasizing that. So I’ve been one of the guys that is in the every possession, every time I get a bucket, just picking it up forward. One of them being a primary ball handler for my team.”
He also pointed to the mix of guards he’s been working against in camp.
“We were playing against Luka and AR today. So, me, Hugh, J.
Hardy. You know, guys who have been primary ball handlers.
It’s a good mix of all of them.”
That matchup work has already turned into a test for Bronny. He’s been hounding Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves in camp, two players who can punish even small defensive mistakes in a hurry. James later admitted the back-and-forth has gotten a little chippy, saying they get annoyed with him and he gets annoyed with them.
That’s the kind of daily grind the Lakers want to see.
Bronny has flashed that defensive edge before, including during last season’s playoffs, though his role was tiny. He played in eight games and averaged 1.5 points, but the pressure he brought on opposing guards gave Los Angeles something to build from.
His second NBA season showed some growth too. In 42 regular-season games, he averaged 2.9 points, 1.2 assists, and 0.6 rebounds in 8.9 minutes per game. His shooting numbers also moved in the right direction, as he hit 40.9% from the field and 38.6% from three after shooting 31.3% and 28.1% as a rookie.
The G League production was even more encouraging. In 14 appearances, he put up 15.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.7 assists.
Still, scoring alone won’t be enough to lock down a steady rotation spot on a Lakers team led by Doncic and Reaves. Bronny has spent the offseason working on his jumper, his conditioning, and his ability to run the point. He knows that if he’s going to function as a primary ball handler, he has to be louder, more organized, and sharper about getting teammates in the right spots.
His situation is different now, too. LeBron James left the Lakers for the Philadelphia 76ers this summer, so Bronny will play without his father as a teammate for the first time in his NBA career.
Gilbert Arenas recently said that separation could take some of the pressure off Bronny and help him build his own identity, and Matt Barnes seemed to echo that idea.
For Bronny, the lane to real NBA minutes is obvious. He doesn’t have to be a big-volume scorer on this roster. If he can defend with energy, bring the ball up when called upon, and hit open shots, he gives himself a real shot.
And if the version of Bronny the Lakers are seeing in camp keeps picking up full court and turning possessions into a headache, he can start making a name for himself on his own terms.
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The Lakers are not actively shopping him, and a more likely move would be waiving another player if they need to clear space. Still, Bronnys improved shooting and expanded defensive responsibilities have made him far more than a developmental flyer, and that gives Los Angeles a real decision to weigh if offers keep building. This season also brings a different backdrop for his growth, with LeBron James no longer on the Lakers roster, adding another layer to how the team views his place in its plans. [Read more 🡒]