Bronny James showed up to the Lakers’ latest roster list looking a lot different than he did a year ago.
The biggest change was on the scale. James went from 209 pounds to 223 pounds during training camp, the largest listed weight jump among Lakers players as the 2026-27 season approaches. At 6-foot-2, he has always had the quick-twitch athletic profile that stands out, but the added muscle gives him a sturdier look for the kinds of physical matchups he’ll keep running into.
That bulk-up also appears to be intentional. James has spent the offseason building his frame, and the images from training camp and preseason back that up. The added size looks functional, not flashy - the kind of strength that helps when bigger players try to lean on him.
He wasn’t the only Laker to make a notable offseason change. Austin Reaves added six pounds, a boost that could matter with the added playmaking burden expected from him now that LeBron James has left for the Philadelphia 76ers.
Luka Doncic, meanwhile, dropped just two pounds on paper, but he looks much slimmer. With the Lakers set to lean on him as their top star, the trim-down was a welcome one.
For James, the weight gain is the latest sign of a player trying to carve out a real role. JJ Redick sees him as part of the rotation, and if the added muscle carries over onto the floor, it could wind up being one of the more important changes on the roster.
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Knecht arrived as a former first-round pick, but the Lakers current roster squeeze has put his place in jeopardy as they look for a way to trim down, whether by waiving him or folding him into a consolidation trade. If he does wind up out, the challenge gets tougher from there, since there are only so many open roster spots around the league and no guarantee of an easy landing spot. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers May Have Found An Early Fix For Luka And Reaves
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For a team trying to create cleaner offense around Luka Doni and Austin Reaves, Looneys value may go beyond the box score. He gives the Lakers another veteran frontcourt presence, and his experience has also made him a mentor-type voice for younger players such as Kessler. The early question is whether that fit can become a real on-court answer, especially once the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]
Former Spurs Guard Faces Another Career Crossroads After Short NBA Return Bid
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Walker has since hired a new agent as he looks for playing opportunities overseas, a sign that his next step may come far from another NBA camp. For Lakers fans who remember his run in Los Angeles, it is another reminder of how quickly a promising return bid can change, leaving a once-familiar name again searching for the right fit. [Read more 🡒]