Bronnie James was in Las Vegas recently, and his time there had a noteworthy moment during a game against the Celtics on Thursday night.
As a second-year guard for the Lakers, he initially had a rough start with no points. However, he bounced back and ended up scoring 18 points, which was the highest in the game, along with five assists and three rebounds despite an 87-78 loss.
In the fourth quarter, he showcased a smooth Eurostep that left Boston’s Kenneth Lofton Jr. momentarily frozen in the paint.
Throughout four games with his fellow young teammates from Los Angeles, James averaged 14.3 points, 3.8 assists, and 2.8 rebounds, shooting at 47.6%.
Interestingly, he began his journey with a promising start, having been drafted by the Lakers in 2023, but his rookie season featured limited playtime and time spent in the G-League. It’s been quite a mix of experiences for the son of superstar LeBron James.
This past summer, he took advantage of the opportunity to learn from league veterans and appeared much more at ease on both ends of the court.
“Yeah, certainly,” he remarked to reporters after scoring 17 points against the Clippers recently. “It’s helpful to have been a G League running point guard for most of the time. Just getting these reps in the summer league will give you a comfortable game with each game.”
Amidst all of this, Bronnie has found himself at the center of trade discussions, even garnering some headlines that might overshadow his father, who has been a topic of conversation this offseason.
The 40-year-old LeBron, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, has opted to exercise his $52.6 million option for the 2025-26 season. However, his agent, Rich Paul, hinted to ESPN that they might seek a deal if they feel the Lakers aren’t in a position to compete for a title.
“LeBron wants to compete for the championship,” Paul explained to ESPN. “He knows the Lakers are building for the future, and he understands that, but he cherishes the realistic opportunity to win it all. [Buss] And Rob [Pelinka] and the organization are significant to his career.”
This week, a report from Athletic indicated that there hasn’t been any discussion about trades, and LeBron expects to remain with the Lakers as the season begins.
It’s unclear whether Bronnie’s success in the summer league might influence his father’s choices, but it certainly won’t be seen as a negative.
