Who Is Bronny James?
Bronny James is a professional basketball guard for the Los Angeles Lakers and the eldest son of NBA superstar LeBron James. Selected 55th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, he entered the league with immense attention due to his family name and the possibility of playing alongside his father on the same team.
Standing around 6-foot-2, Bronny is known for his defensive instincts, passing feel, and willingness to play a complementary role rather than operate as a primary scorer. Those traits made him an intriguing developmental prospect for the Lakers, who signed him to a multi-year deal that keeps him under team control through the middle of the decade.[2][6]
Second Season Struggles and G League Assignment
In his second NBA season, Bronny has struggled to secure a stable role in the Lakers’ backcourt. He has typically played under 12 minutes per game, often appearing at the end of quarters or in so-called garbage time, and his low usage has limited both his impact and his opportunity to grow.[1][6]
Offensively, his shooting percentages and turnovers have been a concern. Reports note that he is shooting in the low 30s from the field and under 30% from three in NBA action, while G League games have shown similar inefficiency despite higher volume.[2][5] This combination has led the Lakers to assign him back to the South Bay Lakers so he can log heavier minutes, handle the ball more, and work through mistakes away from the pressure of the NBA rotation.[3][5]
Development, LeBron’s Influence, and Future Outlook
The Lakers’ decision to send Bronny to the G League again has fueled debate among fans and analysts about how best to develop a young guard on a contending team. Some writers argue that inconsistent NBA minutes and rapid shuttling between rosters are stunting his growth, and that a long, uninterrupted G League run would better serve his development.[1][3] Others question whether he can become an effective off-ball guard without a more reliable jumper and cleaner decision-making.[2]
Through the scrutiny, LeBron James has continued to publicly support his son, highlighting Bronny’s defensive energy, work ethic, and gradual improvement rather than raw box-score production.[4][7] With Bronny under contract for several more years, the Lakers have time to see whether he can transform those tools into a consistent role-player profile. His performance and growth during this G League stretch will be pivotal in determining if he returns as a trusted rotation piece or remains an end-of-bench project in Los Angeles.