The Los Angeles Lakers want to be contenders with Luka Doncic and LeBron James, but Bronny James is forcing the coaching staff to rethink their plans. Fans saw the younger James shining in summer league and overtaking Dalton Knecht as the team’s best young talent. The 20-year-old is undersized and needs time to develop, but the first steps have been positive. The Lakers must continue fostering his development.
Their first goal is winning games and competing for a championship. It is why they signed Marcus Smart as a defense-first guard, but Bronny should benefit from that. Ideally, the younger James turns into a Smart-like player with a better jumper. Lakers’ head coach JJ Redick has a plan for Bronny, and it involves being impactful on both ends of the floor.
The Lakers are light on perimeter defense, and that may not be by accident. James keeps improving, and the coaching staff hopes he can vault his way into the rotation by season’s end.
Bronny James is making JJ Redick rethink the Lakers' rotation
Bronny averaged 14.3 points, 2.7 assists, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.0 steal in 20.4 minutes per game during the Las Vegas Summer League. He was the point guard and primary creator for the South Bay Lakers to close last season. The organization is clearly invested in his development and has already seen positives.
Redick mentioned Davion Mitchell and T.J. McConnell as the type of player he wants Bronny to become. Both are known for their defense and ability to make plays. That is the Lakers' goal. He will mostly play in the G League, but LA will need the 20-year-old in certain situations.
Smart has played 54 total games in the last two seasons. He is no stranger to missing time. When the veteran is out, the Lakers will likely call on Bronny to be part of the rotation. How the 20-year-old fares in those minutes will determine his role moving forward.
In the meantime, James is focusing on his jumper and conditioning. Those are the keys to him carving out a role this season. If Bronny is a plus shooter who can defend 94 feet, the Lakers will find playing time. It may be sporadic, but James must crawl before he can run.
Redick sees his conditioning as the only thing holding him back. He was quoted in the recent ESPN feature with this.
"The biggest thing for Bronny is that he has to get in elite shape. That's the barrier of entry for him right now. And if he does that, I think he's got a chance to be a really fantastic player in the NBA."
The Los Angeles Lakers drafted a special talent. Bronny James is best known for being LeBron’s oldest son, but that will soon change. The 20-year-old is on the cusp of cracking an NBA rotation and creating his own legacy. Lakers fans are excited to see his growth, and the best is still yet to come. Everyone hopes Bronny can make Redick's lineup decisions even hard immediately. It won't be long if continues getting better, so stay tuned.