The Los Angeles Lakers gave Bronny James the keys to the offense in the G League season opener, so he did his best Luka Doncic impression. The 6’2 guard led Coachella Valley in field goal attempts and assists. Bronny scored 22 points on 18 shots, took five 3-pointers, and had five rebounds. It seemed like an impressive night until fans realize the team had an abysmal 98.1 offensive rating in the opener.
James made eight field goals in the win. Five of them were mid-range jumpers or floaters. Bronny had zero assisted buckets. He made five of seven from the mid-range and just two of six in the paint. James is not Jalen Brunson or Kyrie Irving. Bronny needs to get others involved in the halfcourt or play a spot-up role. He didn’t do either in the G League season opener.
Bronny failed his preseason audition for the backup point guard role. He was so bad, the Lakers played without one in the season opener because Collin Sexton was out. Bronny needs minutes, but the Lakers must start developing him in the role they see him playing in the NBA. Shot-hunting point guard isn’t that.
Bronny James must work on his playmaking
James had seven assists to one turnover in his G League debut, which was a positive after his preseason issues running the show. In his 12 NBA minutes to start this season, Bronny has two turnovers, and the Lakers are minus-27 with him on the floor. His offensive game is a clear area that needs improvement.
The 22-year-old dished out some easy dimes in transition. Coachella Valley forced Salt Lake City into 20 turnovers and scored 28 points off of them. The Lakers won the game 104-98. They had a 98.1 offensive rating, which would have been by far the lowest in the G League last season. The stats say Bronny shined, but the film says the entire offense struggled with James leading the charge.
Los Angeles is developing the 22-year-old as a point guard. He hasn’t played that role, even in high school. There is a steep learning curve to being an offensive creator in the NBA. James is struggling to make plays and run the offense. Fans saw it in preseason, and those issues popped back up in his G League debut.
The Lakers need to put Bronny in the role he’s going to play in the NBA. It is a mistake to let him try to be Coachella Valley’s Luka.
Bronny James needs to be a role player in the G League
Bronny had a 31.4 usage percentage in Coachella Valley’s season opener, which would have been tied for eighth in the G League last season. Austin Reaves has a 25.9 usage percentage this season. Luka Doncic leads the NBA at 40.7. Only 12 NBA players are above 31.4, and all of them are the leading scorers on their team.
Bronny isn’t learning how to be the backup point guard on the Lakers. He is playing like a superstar. That is never a role he will fill on the NBA floor.
Los Angeles wants James to be an energetic reserve who guards 94 feet and makes plays. The Lakers have Doncic and Reaves locked in as their stars. The backup point guard will play with one of them as head coach JJ Redick staggers their playing time. Bronny must learn how to be a creator who plays off a star. Not try to become a 6’2 version of Luka.
James needs reps to fill his role. That is what the G League assignment was supposed to be about. Bronny should be banned from shooting mid-range pull-ups. The Lakers don’t need that. They need him running the offense, making plays, and being ready to fill the backup point guard role if Doncic, Reaves, or Sexton misses time.
Bronny James must shine in the G League to stay with the Lakers
This is Bronny’s shot. He played 30 minutes and was given the keys to the offense of the Coachella Valley Lakers after playing just 12 total minutes with the NBA team to start the year. The Lakers have a $2.4 million team option on James’ contract for next season. Every roster spot matters as they try to build a title contender around Luka. If Bronny can’t help them win, it is time to move on.
The 22-year-old is buried at the end of the Lakers’ bench. Coach Redick is only using him in garbage time. Bronny's only path to an NBA opportunity is shining in the G League. He needs to run the offense, play stout defense, and prove he is too good for the developmental league.
That didn’t happen in the opener. James put up counting stats, but everything behind them was problematic.
The Los Angeles Lakers need to develop Bronny James into a role player. That didn’t happen in his G League debut, and his struggles from the preseason continued. The counting stats were better, but the offensive production was not. Bronny has struggled playing point guard. He must be better if he wants to stick on the Lakers.
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