The Los Angeles Lakers will regret not putting Bronny James on their 2026 summer league roster because he needs reps to develop. He played in both the California Classic and Las Vegas summer leagues before his first two seasons. Third-year players rarely go to the event, but Bronny is just 46 days older than Lakers rookie Cameron Carr.
The 21-year-old averaged just 8.9 minutes per game last season and wasn’t part of the nightly rotation. He must develop to stick in LA and needs reps to get there. Bronny can no longer rely on his famous father to keep him on the Lakers. LeBron informed the franchise he is going to play elsewhere next season. Los Angeles reportedly wants to keep Bronny, but he has to earn his spot. The Lakers won’t wait forever. They want to build a title contender around Luka Doncic, and need the 21-year-old to become an impactful rotation piece.
Bronny made a leap in year two. His 3-point shooting and defense vastly improved, which are key areas for him to become a fit around Luka. Bronny is not there yet, which is exactly why the Lakers should have given him summer league reps to improve his confidence and add to his game.
Lakers will regret not playing Bronny James in summer league
The Lakers went 6-2 in summer league and made the semifinals in Las Vegas before falling to the Warriors. Their group was arguably the best defensive team led by Adou Thiero and Carr. Los Angeles needed another creator and experienced option to win the title. Bronny could have been perfect, and it would have been another chance to explore the studio space against lesser competition.
James averaged 13.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.1 steals in 28.4 minutes per game over 20 G League contests last season. He was a big part of South Bay’s success, and the playing time aided his development.
Bronny is a 21-year-old late second-round draft pick. He wasn’t a finished product when he was selected by the Lakers. The 6’2 guard needs time to maximize his game and figure out how to make an impact in a lesser role.
This is a crucial season for Bronny. LeBron is gone, so it is fully on him to earn his roster spot. The Lakers have a $2.4 million team option on Bronny for the 2027-28 season. They want to contend and need depth to do it. If Bronny doesn’t improve, the Lakers may move on next summer.
It is now or never, and the Lakers just wasted a shot for James to improve his confidence, shooting, playmaking, and defense. He could have been LA’s on-ball stopper and an important creator in summer league.
Bronny won’t get those chances on the Lakers, but versatile skill sets help NBA teams win. The purple and gold should be trying to maximize the 21-year-old’s game in any way possible.
The Los Angeles Lakers will regret not playing Bronny James in summer league. He missed out on valuable on-court reps. The 21-year-old is younger than several rookies and is still developing. Any time on the court against talented players is a positive. The Lakers should have had James on their roster and will regret not playing him. It is as simple as that.
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