The Los Angeles Lakers desperately need Bronny James to show growth in his second NBA season, but the 21-year-old is struggling to produce in the G League. Through four games in the tip-off tournament, Bronny is averaging 10.5 points, 4.8 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in 32.8 minutes, but shooting just 34.1 percent from the field with 17 turnovers.
The Lakers remain invested in LeBron’s oldest son. He is under contract through 2028, and the franchise keeps giving him chances to grow his game. It has been a rough start to his second NBA season. Bronny is shooting 32.3 percent in the NBA and struggling to get minutes. The Lakers hoped he would dominate the G League to get his confidence up, but it hasn’t happened.
It is fair to question his status after his struggles. Bronny won’t be handling the ball for the Lakers with Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and LeBron James on the roster. He needs to fit into a role, but has shown no signs of growing into it.
Lakers’ Bronny James situation is looking problematic
The Lakers have played Nick Smith Jr. over Bronny several times this season, which is a head-scratching decision. Smith Jr. was signed to a two-way contract after being released by the Hornets. He is more of a bucket getter than James, but Los Angeles should be trying to develop their 21-year-old draft pick.
To make matters worse, Bronny can’t shoot. He has made four of his 14 3-point attempts in NBA games this season, which increased his career percentage from long range to 28.3. Things are even worse in the G League games, where LeBron’s son has made just four of 22 triples.
It is difficult to be an off-ball player who does not shoot in the modern NBA. The Lakers need floor spacers around their best players, and Bronny can’t consistently knock them down.
The 6’2 guard is a bit undersized and turning the ball over way too much. He has produced a negative value over replacement player (VORP) and a negative win shares per 48 minutes so far this season.
It is a limited sample, but the G League numbers are even more disturbing. NBA players dominate at that level, and Bronny is struggling. The South Bay Lakers have lost his 131 minutes by 14 points to further show just how bad things have been.
The Lakers want to contend for championships. They need role players who can give them different looks in the playoffs to make that a reality. Right now, Bronny is buried at the end of the bench and not trusted to make an impact. Los Angeles must see improvement to keep him on the roster. So far this season, it has been difficult to find.
The Los Angeles Lakers' situation with Bronny James is worse than fans expected. They thought he’d dominate the G League and await his NBA opportunity. Instead, the 21-year-old is struggling with South Bay and watching Nick Smith Jr. play over him in Los Angeles. Not the ideal spot for a highly touted prospect.
Fans hope Bronny James turns it around quickly. He is a fan favorite and clearly has talent. The Lakers and their fans want him to become a rotation player. It is on Bronny to earn it. That has been a struggle so far, but there is still time for him to improve.