Is Bronny James a regular rotation player for the Los Angeles Lakers? Not yet. However, the second-year guard has gotten his opportunities early in the new season, and JJ Redick pointed out a critical reason as to why his trust has gone up in the former second-round pick.
Redick told Thuc Nhi Nguyen of the Los Angeles Times earlier in the season: "He’s now developed where he’s got a great point-five mentality. He’s catch-and-shoot ready at all times.”
The idea here from Redick is that players should know what they want to do with the ball immediately upon receiving it. Bronny has not always had that type of decisiveness, struggling with that element during his rookie season in 2024-25.
James has quickly grown a lot more comfortable, and it is easy to spot for anyone watching Lakers games. Redick has highlighted the need for improved conditioning paving the path for Bronny to be a difference-maker in the past.
The mental aspect of the game is just as important for a young player as keeping up with the physical demands of the game speed in the NBA. Bronny continues to show up in meaningful ways across the board with his consistent development.
Bronny James keeps delivering new signs of growth for Lakers
For as abysmal as the Lakers looked against the Atlanta Hawks in their disappointing 122-102 loss on Saturday, James offered a silver lining. The second-year pro delivered his best scoring performance of the season in the overall tough outing for Los Angeles.
Bronny scored nine points, shooting 4-of-6 from the field and 1-of-2 from beyond the arc. That may not sound like much at first glance, but it is a key sign of improvement from a player who has shot poorly on the season otherwise.
That strong shooting night came a few games after James put in a strong performance as a playmaker against the Portland Trail Blazers. Bronny delivered six assists, with no turnovers, when a shorthanded Lakers team knocked off the Blazers in a convincing 123-115 win on the road.
Both of those performances showcased the type of improved decision-making that Redick was talking about in his quote. With the Lakers still navigating injuries, James will get more of these opportunities to keep proving his head coach right.
The offensive end of the basketball court continues to be where Bronny needs to deliver the leap that will make him a consistent option in the rotation. Perhaps 2025-26 is not the season James proves himself in that regard. However, it does not feel impossible altogether for the future.