The Los Angeles Lakers have had an expanded role for Bronny James in the first three preseason games. Collin Sexton has yet to play as he deals with a lower-leg injury. Austin Reaves missed the first two games, but returned in the first home game. Luka Doncic even sat out in the contest in Golden State, which opened the door for Bronny to start at point guard. The young guard has played 59 minutes so far and trends are emerging.
The Lakers bet on Bronny already. They picked up his option and kept him on their roster after LeBron James’ departure. The 22-year-old has yet to crack the rotation, but fans have seen the improvements. Bronny is a hard worker and is eager to prove himself.
James is entering his third NBA season and must help the Lakers win to earn a second contract. There have been plenty of opportunities for Bronny in the preseason. So far, there have been some good, some bad, and a few worrying trends developing.
Good: Bronny James has 13 assists in 3 games
Bronny averaged just 3.7 assists in 27.4 minutes per game in the G League regular season, so his 4.3 in 19 minutes is a massive improvement. He is tied for third in the NBA in total assists and was leading the league when their third game concluded.
James has had his most success attacking off the dribble. He has found teammates cutting or sprayed out to open shooters. Bronny must be able to make plays like this if he is going to be a point guard.
Bronny dime ➡️ Mamu 👌 pic.twitter.com/mSRPLpduTD
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) October 9, 2026
James is an undersized guard. He needs the threat of scoring to open up everything else. Fans have seen flashes. Bronny handing out 13 dimes in three games is impressive, but it hasn’t been all sunshine for the 22-year-old.
Bad: Bronny James has 8 turnovers in 3 games
The young guard is no stranger to turning the ball over. He averaged 2.1 per game last season in the G League, and these eight have been problematic. Six were live-ball turnovers, and four quickly resulted in a bucket for the other team. The other two ended with a foul and an eventual stepback 3-pointer. Bronny is making matters worse by easily allowing transition scores off his turnovers.
There are still questions about his ball-handling and decision-making. He has had the ball stolen from him four times in three games, along with two bad passes being intercepted and two offensive fouls. Tightening his handle and developing his court mapping skills are important if Bronny wants to play point guard.
The assists have been a positive, but head coach JJ Redick got the answer to his experiment of playing Bronny at point guard.
Worrying: Bronny James is not a point guard
The first 52 seconds of Bronny’s start as the lead ball-handler tell the tale. Head coach JJ Redick was forced to burn a timeout after a nightmare open. The Lakers had a turnover right near the end of the shot clock before James fouled Brandin Podziemski shooting a 3-pointer at the other end of the floor. Golden State got a four-point play, and LA was struggling to get their offense going for a second straight possession when Redick angrily called a timeout.
The Warriors starters dominated the Bronny-led unit. The Lakers were down 16 just six minutes into the game, and Los Angeles had only scored 13 points. It is only preseason, but things haven’t gone well with James leading the offense.
Bronny has had more success driving and kicking or being a secondary creator. The 6’2 guard has struggled with his ball-handling and running set plays. He certainly hasn’t looked like a point guard. Sexton’s return will ease Bronny’s burden, but this isn’t great if the Lakers view him as a future option at the lead guard spot.
Good: Bronny James has earned JJ Redick’s trust
Bronny has gotten the run over Jaden Hardy. The Lakers haven’t felt the need to go with a no-guard look or let Quentin Grimes run the offense in a bigger lineup. James has been on the floor as the backup point guard. He earned coach Redick’s trust at the end of last season and clearly hasn’t lost it.
Bronny is a hard worker who continues to improve his game. He is often the last one on the floor after practice. His work ethic alone is a reason to keep James on the roster.
The Lakers have 16 players under guaranteed contracts and need to cut down to 15 before the start of the regular season. Some believed Bronny would be in the battle for the final roster spot, but he is clearly ahead of Hardy, Dalton Knecht, and Jarred Vanderbilt in that race. Bronny has earned the trust of the head coach, but his offensive game has been problematic.
Bad: Bronny James is struggling to find his shot
Bronny is shooting 30.4 percent from the field over his 13 attempts. He has made just one of his six 3-point attempts. Perhaps more concerning is the type of shots. Bronny has been forced to take several contested mid-range shots and has struggled to get all the way to the rim.
James shot 37.6 percent from 3-point range over 20 G League games last season and made 38.6 percent over 42 NBA games. His jumper improved significantly and caused some excitement. If Bronny could be a spot-up shooter, he had a new path to cracking the rotation.
James has struggled to create shots for himself and needs someone to step him up. That would mean Bronny embracing being an off-ball option and not a point guard. Fans haven’t seen that this preseason, but injuries have forced LA into playing Bronny as the lead creator on the floor.
Worrying: Bronny James breakout looks unlikely
James is a fan favorite, so there was hope that the 22-year-old would make a leap in his third NBA season. Fans hoping for him to be part of the nightly rotation will likely be disappointed. Bronny hasn’t improved his ball-handling, playmaking, or offensive game enough to be part of the rotation.
Sexton’s return will shift James into the third-string point guard role. He will be called upon when injuries strike or if the Lakers are struggling. James brings energy and athleticism, so coach Redick will use him when those traits are needed.
If Bronny isn’t part of the rotation by the end of the season, the Lakers will have another decision. They need to partially guarantee his team option by June 29, 2027. If they let James play out the 2027-28 season without an extension, he will become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2028. The Lakers have to quickly decide if Bronny is a long-term piece or not.
Bronny James needs to break into the Los Angeles Lakers rotation and quickly. Sadly, that leap doesn’t look like it is coming this season. He has gotten extended preseason run thanks to minor injuries in LA’s backcourt. In his shot, James has struggled offensively and been far from a lockdown defender. Expect him to make the team, but he isn’t ready for an every-night role.
Add us as a preferred source on Google