Bronny James’ rookie season with the Los Angeles Lakers has seen its share of ups and downs, often highlighted by the relentless scrutiny of NBA Twitter. While his every move has been dissected by media pundits, let's peel back the layers and focus on James' promising potential, which is capturing the attention of the Lakers' organization.
It’s hard to talk about Bronny’s debut without recalling the drama that surrounded him during the 2024-25 campaign, particularly the spat involving Stephen A. Smith and his father, LeBron James. While the noise was turned up high, the quieter, more important story of Bronny’s development was steadily unfolding in the background.
On the surface, some might argue that James occupies a questionable roster spot for the Lakers. But given his trajectory and work ethic, investing in his growth could pay dividends. Patience is key with Bronny, who came into the league with a strong pedigree as a four to five-star prospect coming out of high school, having numerous college offers before committing to USC.
James' college stint didn’t exactly set the NBA on fire—averaging 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 0.8 steals per game with shooting splits of 37-27-68. Yet, these numbers don’t tell the full story. Overcoming a significant setback due to a cardiac arrest during a USC workout, James exhibited remarkable resilience—a quality that might just define his journey more than any stat line.
In his rookie NBA season, much of his development has taken place in the NBA G League with the South Bay Lakers. There, he started to show flashes of his potential, putting up encouraging averages of 21.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.9 steals per game. His shooting improved to 44.3 percent from the field and 38.0 percent from beyond the arc, giving the Lakers food for thought about his future.
While it's too soon to label Bronny as the next NBA superstar, there's a reasonable expectation he can carve out a role as a vital player in the Lakers rotation. Head Coach JJ Redick recognizes this, praising Bronny's consistent work ethic and voicing his belief in the young guard’s potential to be a long-term rotation player. "He's the same guy every day," Redick remarked, highlighting the rookie’s dedication.
With the Lakers facing gaps in depth, shooting, and defense, there’s hope that James can develop into a player who offers these qualities off the bench. Abandoning the investment in his growth at this early stage would be premature. With persistence and the right guidance, Bronny James could turn those NBA Twitter punchlines into applause from the stands.
