The Los Angeles Lakers dominated the Los Angeles Clippers 103-87 without Luka Doncic and three other players, and Bronny James still couldn’t get on the floor. Ziaire Williams, Cameron Carr, and Adou Thiero missed the game with injuries. The Lakers only had 11 healthy players. Head coach JJ Redick played nine. Kevon Looney and Bronny were the only two who didn’t see the floor, and the first five games suggest James is the 15th man.
Jaden Hardy passed Bronny in the rotation over the last two preseason games. James got the first crack at filling the backup point guard role with Sexton out, but he failed the audition.
Bronny did get 6.7 minutes in garbage time of the season opener, but he hasn’t played since. The Lakers were without their superstar on the second night of a back-to-back and didn’t find a second for James. Hardy got nine minutes and was in the rotation. Bronny is nowhere near an opportunity in a close game.
Bronny James was the 11th man against the Clippers
The Lakers only had 11 players available. Looney played in each of the first four games. He was minus-29 in 30 disastrous minutes, but coach Redick put him on the floor before the game was decided in every contest. The head coach has shown a lot more faith in Loon than he has in Bronny.
The purple and gold were up 19 entering the fourth quarter and won by 16. It wasn’t a close game late. Redick didn’t have much of a bench to empty with two starters sidelined, but it was a blowout. Still, there was no playing time for Bronny.
It is fair to question the 22-year-old’s future with the franchise. They should have moved on before the regular season opener if they had no plans for playing or developing Bronny.
Bronny James was disastrous during the preseason
Bronny averaged 2.2 points, 2.8 assists, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.4 turnovers in 16.4 minutes during his five preseason games. He shot 25.0 percent from the field and hit one of his eight 3-point attempts. James proved he’s not a point guard and didn’t have an offensive role at all.
Bronny is never going to be a lockdown defender. He is undersized at 6’2 and has had issues on this end of the floor. The Lakers were outscored by 31 points in his 81.8 preseason minutes, and some of that came against players who struggle to see the floor in regular season games.
James was the backup point guard in the preseason opener behind Luka Doncic. Austin Reaves and Collin Sexton were out, but the Lakers believed in Bronny. The audition went so badly that LA went without a backup point guard in the regular season opener.
Bronny James won’t be getting a shot at minutes any time soon
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure this one out. James was 11th of 11 against the Clippers. Doncic and Williams are starters. Thiero and Carr should also be ahead of Bronny at this stage. The best-case scenario is Bronny passing Looney to be the 14th man in coach Redick's rotation.
James not playing in a blowout with four players sidelined tells fans everything they need to know. Bronny is clearly in coach Redick’s doghouse. The head coach used Jarred Vanderbilt over James. He went with a defense-first option who struggles to knock down shots over the 22-year-old guard with room to grow.
James is glued to the bench. The Lakers sat four potential rotation pieces on Wednesday, and it didn’t matter. Jaden Hardy passing him in the rotation and has left Bronny without an opportunity. All James can do is earn one through hard work and growth. Even that won’t be easy, but it is worth a shot.
The Los Angeles Lakers will need a guard whenever Doncic, Reaves, or Sexton misses time, but it won’t be Bronny. The purple and gold have been comfortable shifting over Quentin Grimes or playing without a true creator. Bronny can’t even get in a blowout game. This looks like another Rob Pelinka draft bust. James’ contract is non-guaranteed for next season, and it is time to move on.
Bronny James must improve his jumper, playmaking, defense, and decision-making. If not, the Los Angeles Lakers could quickly waive or trade him. LA will look to upgrade their roster before the Feb. 11 trade deadline. Moving James feels like the obvious is the answer, especially if they can plug a hole in their roster. Bronny shouldn’t be a Laker after the trade deadline. It is just time, as James is glued to the bench.
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