The Los Angeles Lakers are developing Bronny James as a point guard, but the 21-year-old has proven that is not his ideal role. He has struggled in his NBA minutes, but it is difficult to draw any conclusions because Bronny’s role has been inconsistent. It hasn’t been in the G League. In those 38 games, James has produced 4.2 assists and 2.9 turnovers per game. Every NBA player with 2.9 turnovers last season averaged over 20 points or 6.4 assists each night.
Rotation players dominate in the G League, which makes Bronny’s stats even more concerning. The 6’2 guard’s ideal role is as a spot-up shooter and tertiary creator. James shouldn’t be attacking off the dribble or running the offense, especially on the Lakers. Bronny clearly sees things differently. He said this after practice on Oct. 3.
“That is what a point guard is. You’ve got to be talking to your guys. You’ve got to be helping people get to where they need to be, and I am taking pride in that for sure. If anyone is out, I need to be the guy to step up, be the primary ball-handler, and get my guys in the right spots. So, I got to lock in on that.”
Bronny wants to be a point guard, and head coach JJ Redick mentioned James when talking about trusting the offense to a handful of players. The Lakers clearly view him as a point guard, but they shouldn’t.
Bronny James should be in a lower-leverage offensive role
Bronny has never been a primary creator. Bronny averaged just 2.4 assists per game during his senior year of high school. He was second in per-minute assists at USC behind Isaiah Collier. Bronny can make plays, but he is more of a secondary or tertiary creator.
The 21-year-old’s shooting took a massive leap last season. He went from making 33.6 percent from 3-point range in the G League as a rookie to 37.6 percent. It allowed Bronny to shoot over 50 percent from the field and find a more suitable role with less shot creation and more off-ball work.
James shouldn’t be the primary creator. He should always be playing next to an alpha and leverage his playmaking when the defense forgets about him.
Lakers need to develop Bronny James as off-ball weapon to maximize stars
The Lakers want the ball in the hands of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Coach Redick has already told fans he plans to stagger his two best players. Doncic led the NBA with a 36.8 usage percentage last season. He is a heliocentric superstar, and Reaves was over 25 percent with LeBron still on LA’s roster.
The Lakers want more versatile offensive players, but that doesn’t make everyone a point guard. Isaiah Hartenstein can make plays, and Chet Holmgren spaces the floor for the Thunder. They are big men with versatility, not point guards.
The Lakers need Bronny to consistently knock down jumpers and make the right plays. Defending 94 feet is another way to make an impact. Those little things are more valuable to Los Angeles than James being the lead ball-handler and creator when he’s on the floor. Bronny is a role player and has to embrace his spot.
Bronny James’ desire shouldn’t matter to the Lakers
The 21-year-old said this when asked about his development after Saturday’s practice.
“I come in every day trying to get better and better myself as a point guard, so just taking those steps, encouraging my guys, and getting them into the right spots. Just making sure we are organized, and I think it will help me down the road.”
James mentioned being a point guard for a second time. He clearly views himself in the role, but that shouldn’t matter.
Superstar players can dictate their roles, but that is not Bronny. The others have to fit around them. Role definition and buy-in are crucial to any championship contender. It is why the Lakers need Bronny to be comfortable playing off the ball and making an impact with his shooting and defense.
It is on JJ Redick and his coaching staff to mold Bronny into the player the Lakers need. Doncic and Reaves are locked in as the team’s stars. Rob Pelinka added Collin Sexton this summer to be their third creator. Clearly, Los Angeles doesn’t see Bronny overtaking any of those three. That means James must embrace an off-ball role.
The Los Angeles Lakers should not be developing Bronny James as a point guard. He is an off-ball role player who needs to make shots, defend, and create against a shifting defense. The 6’2 guard is not a point guard. The sooner everyone realizes that, the better. The Lakers need Bronny in his ideal role, and lead creator isn’t it.
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