The Los Angeles Lakers need all hands on deck to be a serious title contender, and Bronny James must make significant improvements to be an NBA player. The rookie appeared in just 27 games last season and produced a negative 0.2 value over replacement player (VORP). He clearly didn’t belong. Bronny played well in the G League and showcased improvements in summer league, but necessarily the ones that will get him on the floor with the Lakers.
The 20-year-old guard won’t be handling the ball with Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves on their roster. There is a clear path to beating out Gabe Vincent for minutes, but it involves Bronny being a stout defender and spacing the floor for LA’s top options.
There is no trust he can do that at the NBA level. He averaged 2.3 points on 31.3 percent shooting from the field as a rookie. That includes making just nine of 32 3-point attempts. Bronny has the talent, but needs time to develop. Sadly, the Lakers can’t wait.
Lakers need Bronny James to be able to play minutes this season
Things are a bit tricky in the Lakers' backcourt entering the season. They signed Marcus Smart to be a lockdown perimeter defender, but his injury history and recent trend towards defending bigger players create issues. If Smart can’t guard on the ball, where do the Lakers turn?
Austin Reaves and Gabe Vincent could be options. The job fell on Rui Hachimra often after the Luka Doncic trade, but it is far from his ideal role. Head coach JJ Redick could get creative by using Jake LaRavia, or may even could dust off Bronny.
If the younger James proves he’s not ready for NBA minutes, the Lakers may quickly be out of options over the 82-game regular season grind. They need everyone as injuries strike. Bronny must quickly prove himself, or the Lakers need to move on.
Bronny’s jumper, playmaking, and defense are improving. He was not an NBA player as a rookie. Did the 20-year-old grow enough to prove he's ready to handle spot minutes? Fans will quickly find out. Bronny must earn coach Redick’s trust during training camp, which could be difficult after last season’s struggles.
The Oklahoma City Thunder just proved depth will carry the second apron era in the NBA. Los Angeles has several question marks at the backend of their roster, including Bronny James.
The 20-year-old is working hard to silence his doubters, but it won’t be easy. His last name makes it more difficult. Everyone expects Bronny to shine. He could be a quality rotation player in time. The Lakers need that moment to be now, which makes things even more challenging for both sides.
The Los Angeles Lakers upgraded their roster this offseason in hopes of winning the championship. Luka Doncic is in the best shape of his life, but he needs the right pieces around him to win it all. Did Bronny become one of those options? If not, the Lakers have to seriously consider his future with the franchise.