Can Bronny James Crack Los Angeles Lakers' Rotation This Season?
Some of NBA's best players were drafted in the second round. Nikola Jokić. Draymond Green. Bronny James.
OK—James is nowhere in that stratosphere. But he's among the most popular second-round picks in league history as the son of LeBron James.
Beyond the hype (which extended to road games during his rookie season), James improved throughout his first year, culminating in a career-high 17-point outburst against the Milwaukee Bucks in March. Through his performances in the G League and at summer league, James has demonstrated that he is a legitimate NBA prospect.
But is he ready for actual rotation minutes this year with the Los Angeles Lakers?
What James Brings to the Court
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James projects to be a defensive-minded secondary ball-handler at the point guard position. He has already demonstrated his capabilities at the G League level and provided glimpses of his potential in stretches with the NBA club.
The Lakers already have a more polished version of James' profile in Gabe Vincent. The 29-year-old veteran guard is 6'2" with a strong 200-pound frame. Vincent averaged 8.7 points with 3.1 assists per game through the 2021-22 season with the Miami Heat, shooting 36.8 percent from three-point range. The following year, he played a significant role in the team's run to the NBA Finals, scoring 12.7 points with 3.5 assists, and hit 37.8 percent of his shots through 22 postseason contests.
If James, the No. 55 pick in 2024, can reach Vincent's level, that's a win for the Lakers. He may aspire for more, but the initial hope is that James can reach regular rotation status.
Ideally, James will become a lockdown perimeter defender who can shoot the three closer to 40 percent—think of an older-school Lakers guard in Derek Fisher. James has a long way to go to prove he's capable, but that's the target. Should he develop further into a more dynamic shot creator as a primary ball handler, even better.
What He Lacks
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James is relatively short for an NBA player. Listed as 6'4" at USC, James stands slightly under 6'2" (though the NBA lists him at 6'3", 210 lbs). His college career was cut short by a serious heart issue. He recovered, but the incident set back his development.
Still, he learned from adversity and has a lot to offer an NBA team. He just has a lot of ground to make up, especially if he wants to become a rotation-level point guard. James inherited some of his father's natural basketball intelligence. He sees the game well, but is still learning how to implement those thoughts with his diminutive stature.
His greatest swing skill is shooting. If he can become an average to good shooter while providing strong perimeter defense, he could have a long NBA career. Initially, his defense as a rookie was adequate. That too comes with a learning curve.
Coach JJ Redick also mentioned that James needs to become an elite-conditioned athlete. For a player who doesn't project to dominate on offense, he'll need to have the stamina to play hard on both ends of the floor.
Finally, James was often passive offensively at USC and that initially carried over to the Lakers. Throughout last season, especially as he received more reps in the G League, his aggression level improved.
Nepotism Is Double-Edged
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After James' brief USC career and medical scare, if his name were Jonny Brames, he'd have gone back to college. The Lakers drafted him because of his father, the team's elite star since joining the franchise in 2018.
Nepotism got him into the league, but he's also put in significant work, and several scouts on competing teams view James as a viable prospect. He'll have a longer opportunity to prove himself as his father's son than the standard late second-round pick, but ultimately, his work ethic, skill and drive will play a larger role in determining who he is in the league.
That said, LeBron James' tenure with the Lakers may be nearing an end. The franchise acquired Luka Dončić in February, and the younger All-Star is now the face of the team. If James (the elder) leaves the Lakers as a free agent after this season (or is traded before the February deadline), will his son still have a role on the team?
Escaping nepotism will remain a challenge for James. It may have gotten him to the Lakers, but it may prove to be a roadblock with the franchise moving forward.
The Lakers' Rotation
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For James to crack the rotation, he'll need to outplay more experienced players at his position. The team's primary starters at guard are Austin Reaves and Dončić. The pair played about 35 minutes a game apiece, leaving 26 backcourt minutes for others.
In addition to Vincent, who averaged 21.2 minutes last season, the franchise added veteran guard Marcus Smart. The former No. 6 pick in 2014 split his time between the Memphis Grizzlies and Washington Wizards, reaching 20 minutes per game in 34 appearances. Vincent and Smart are defensive-minded guards who can shoot the three (though not always consistently), and will get most of the backup minutes at guard.
Smart's most significant issue is durability. If he misses 20-50 games, as he's been known to do in recent years, that might open a window for James to earn minutes. Redick doesn't have many other options at guard, unless he's playing forwards out of position like Dalton Knecht, Adou Thiero, or Jarred Vanderbilt.
James may struggle to get regular minutes initially, but injuries, trades, and, if he can shoot the ball at a high clip and defend his position well, the opportunities may come.
In the Meantime
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James will go through training camp and the start of the season full bore with the Lakers, but he'll likely transition to the South Bay Lakers in early November. The first part of the year leads to the G League's December showcase in Orlando, where James will probably be one of the team's featured players.
The second half of the G League season culminates in the playoffs that begin at the start of April. Once completed, James should be fully available for the L.A. Lakers' postseason run.
Given how much James improved throughout the year, he used his time with South Bay fruitfully. That shouldn't change this season, unless injuries or significantly improved play thrust him into the rotation.
Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on X @EricPincus and Bluesky.
