The Los Angeles Lakers got Austin Reaves back in Game 5, and it forced head coach JJ Redick to cut Bronny James from the rotation. Reaves struggled to make shots after missing nearly four weeks with an oblique injury, but the purple and gold need his playmaking. The Houston Rockets won Game 5 to extend the series. Fans know Bronny was the ninth man. Redick is only going nine deep, so putting Reaves in meant the end of the 21-year-old in the playoff rotation.
Credit to Bronny. He appeared in each of the first four games in this series, and the Lakers won his 31 minutes by seven points. The second-year pro played well enough in Game 3 to get second-half run, and had LeBron praising his son. It was a positive step, even if it had to end on Wednesday night.
The Lakers' cold shooting and lack of offense cost them in Game 5. The series will shift back to Houston on Friday night, but Bronny won’t be in the rotation. Redick made the difficult call, and there is no margin for error after the Rockets made it 3-2.
JJ Redick axed Bronny James from the Lakers' rotation
Bronny played just seven total minutes in the first two games of this series. He appeared only in the second quarter paired with his father. The run seemed to give the 41-year-old a boost. It was even more evident in Game 3, which sparked coach Redick to use Bronny for a second-half stretch.
Things didn’t go well in Game 4. That opened the door to cut Bronny, but the decision divided the fan base. Some had been calling for it since the playoff opener, and others wanted to see the younger James in Game 5.
sounds silly, but i think jj not playing bronny is zapping lebron of his mid game energy boost. and it’s not like his production could be much worse than some of their other bench options tonight
— claire de lune (@ClaireMPLS) April 30, 2026
Bronny is a fan favorite, but he must improve his game to be part of a playoff rotation. His shooting, defense, and playmaking are still questionable. Bronny shows flashes and struggles. The 21-year-old was a second-round draft pick in 2024. Fans can’t expect him to be a finished product. He needs time to grow, and the playoff minutes have certainly boosted his development.
Redick made several difficult decisions in Game 5. He really only trusted six players as the Lakers looked to close out the series on their home floor. Jaxson Hayes, Jake LaRavia, and Jarred Vanderbilt played under ten minutes and struggled to make an impact. Still, the head coach didn’t turn back to Bronny.
Bronny James got 31 valuable playoff minutes this season, but his time in the Los Angeles Lakers rotation is done. The 21-year-old is only getting back on the floor if there is an injury or a blowout. Otherwise, he will be glued to the bench as the purple and gold attempt to make a deep playoff run. Fans enjoyed it while it lasted. Sadly, it is over. All Bronny can do is keep working on his game and earn more opportunities. Fans know that will happen, so stay tuned.
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