The Los Angeles Lakers need to send Bronny James down to the Coachella Valley Lakers to get on-court minutes and reps in the G League. The 22-year-old guard has played in just two of the first six games for the purple and gold and has gotten eight total minutes. There have been opportunities when players have missed time, but Bronny is buried at the end of the bench. It is time to send him down with the G League season kicking off on Nov. 6.
James got an opportunity as the backup point guard during the preseason with Collin Sexton out, where he proved there is a ton to work on. He is in his third NBA season, but is younger than six 2026 first-round draft picks, including Yaxel Lendeborg. Bronny is just 46 days older than the Lakers’ 25th overall pick Cameron Carr. There is still plenty of time to grow and improve.
James has played quality minutes in the G League in each of his first two professional seasons. He averaged 13.8 points, 4.0 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in 28.4 minutes per game over 20 G League contests last year. The Lakers should build on that and have a clear goal of defining a role that keeps him on the floor at the NBA level.
Bronny James needs to find his offensive role
The Lakers should send Bronny down to figure out where he plays on offense. He struggled as the primary creator on the floor in the preseason. James needs reps as the point guard if that is where Los Angeles wants to play him long-term.
Bronny shot 37.9 percent from 3-point range last season over 158 attempts when combining his G League and NBA numbers. He played more off the ball as an undersized two guard at both levels. The Lakers clearly need an on-ball creator behind Luka, Austin Reaves, and Sexton, but Bronny’s best role may be as a shooter and defender.
The franchise needs to figure out if Bronny is a long-term piece. They should try him as a point guard and on-ball creator. If James struggles, transition him into an on-ball role. The Lakers won’t know until they give him reps and see what he can do. The only way he gets those opportunities is in the G League.
Bronny James still needs work on his defense
Bronny is 6’2 with a 6’7 wingspan. There are clear limitations from the jump, but the Lakers want him to grow into a disruptive on-ball defender like Collin Sexton or TJ McConnell. James doesn’t have to be elite. Just pressuring 94 feet and creating some chaos for the opposition’s offense is enough.
He isn’t a disruptive defender on the ball and struggles when matched up away from it. James gets caught ball watching and is well below average on this end of the floor.
Getting him reps with the G League early and working on these areas of needed growth is massive. Bronny can be Coachella Valley’s pesky on-ball defender and point guard. The Lakers can clearly see his development and will have plenty of film to help continue his improvements.
Bronny James desperately needs reps to continue his development
The 22-year-old is not improving by sitting at the end of the Lakers’ bench. He is getting work in the team’s stay-ready games, but being in live action against real competition would help him improve. The Lakers can also focus his role exactly on what they see him being in the future. Bronny will struggle, but it's better to do that in the developmental league than on the NBA court.
James has only played in mop-duty for the Lakers. They went without a backup point guard in the season opener after Bronny failed his preseason audition. Head coach JJ Redick is not suddenly going to play James significant minutes. If injuries strike, LA can always call him back up to the NBA club.
Bronny James needs on-court reps to continue his development. He was a plus-shooter last season. His work in the G League and on the practice court made that a reality. The 22-year-old should be sent down to work on his craft in hopes of getting him NBA-ready.
The Los Angeles Lakers kept Bronny on their roster, so they should be trying to develop him. He is still younger than six 2026 first-round picks. There is time. The Lakers need to send him down and let Bronny put in the work.
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