The Los Angeles Lakers wanted to run a deeper rotation this season, but they were forced to go with nine players in the season opener because Bronny James failed his preseason audition. They had Quentin Grimes as the sixth man and didn’t play a true backup point guard until garbage time when James, Jaden Hardy, and Chris Manon all got run.
Collin Sexton was sidelined with a calf injury that forced him to miss the entire preseason. He was questionable heading into the opener before being ruled out. The 6’3 guard is getting closer to making his Lakers debut and will be the third ball-handler behind Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves when healthy. The Lakers had nobody fill that role against the Golden State Warriors.
JJ Redick’s strategy worked. Los Angeles dominated Golden State to start the season. He staggered Doncic and Reaves, plus saw Grimes and Ziaire Williams step up with four assists each. The Lakers still need more ball-handling, especially against tougher opponents. Bronny had his shot to be that option, but failed the preseason audition.
Bronny James had a disastrous preseason
Sexton missed the entire preseason, and Bronny got the first opportunity to fill in. He played as the backup point guard in the two games against the Kings and drew a preseason start against the Warriors.
James failed the audition in those three contests. He had 11 points, 13 assists, ten rebounds, and eight turnovers. The Lakers lost his 59 minutes by 11 points, and James struggled to get the team into their offense.
Redick demoted him for the final two preseason games, and things got worse. James failed to score, as he had one assist and four turnovers against lesser competition. It was clear Jaden Hardy had passed him in the pecking order, but neither was in the rotation on opening night. The Lakers played Grimes off the bench and bet their star duo could handle the majority of the playmaking duties.
Bronny’s lack of an offensive game created more questions. He was clearly not a point guard during the preseason and shot just one of eight from 3-point range over five games. James is not a creator or a floor spacer, which leaves him without a role. His defense isn’t elite, so there is no reason for coach Redick to put Bronny into the rotation.
Bronny James didn’t play much better in garbage time of the season opener
The Lakers were up by 33 when James entered the regular-season opener with 6:46 left in the fourth quarter. He played the remainder of the contest, but things didn’t go well. James finished with two points and one turnover. He made his only shot, but the Lakers were outscored by 11 points with him on the floor. They managed to score just 11 points in his nearly seven minutes.
Hardy and Manon each got three shots in garbage time. None of the three guards produced an assist. The offense certainly ground to a halt, and nobody stepped up to fill the reserve creator role.
Coach Redick has made it clear that the Lakers will need someone in this role, especially when Doncic or Reaves misses time. All three of LA’s options don’t seem to fit, so the pressure is on the front office to make a move.
Lakers need to fill this hole to survive the regular season
Los Angeles can’t expect Luka and AR to play all 82 regular season games. Not with the workload they need to handle to ensure the Lakers make the playoffs. Both players will miss time. Sexton is already sidelined, and he’s averaged 59.3 games per season in his eight-year career. The Lakers can’t expect him to play every night, especially coming off a calf injury.
The purple and gold can survive with two ball-handlers, but they can’t expect any of these players to carry the mail alone. They will need Bronny at some point this season. He has proven he’s not ready, so the Lakers should be looking for someone who is.
LA remade their roster around Luka Doncic this offseason. Number 77 is in the middle of his prime and led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals in 2024. He wants to win his first championship now. The Lakers let LeBron James and others walk this summer to retool. They have limited assets, but they shouldn’t stop now. The purple and gold should be trying to plug any holes in their roster.
The Lakers desperately need a fourth ball-handler and shot creator. Bronny James isn’t the answer. Jaden Hardy is a score-first option who can’t run the offense. Chris Manon plays stout defense, but shouldn’t be running the attack. The Lakers need to find another creator before the trade deadline in case injuries strike.
Bronny James was so bad in the preseason that the Los Angeles Lakers played without a backup point guard in the season opener. Coach Redick staggered Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves to make things work. He brought Quentin Grimes off the bench to give the team a secondary option, but that isn't a viable solution against elite defenses. James had his shot and squandered it before the regular season even tipped off, so the Lakers must look elsewhere to fill this need.
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