Bronny James, Lakers
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Bronny James #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers controls the ball against the San Antonio Spurs in the second half at Crypto.com Arena on February 10, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Second-year Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James had a season-high 12 points and six assists in Tuesday’s 136-108 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. But the second-generation player didn’t have any viral moments like his sick ankle-breaker on former All-Star Victor Oladipo during a recent G League game.
After Tuesday’s game, Bronny was asked whether he took extra joy in the moment, given Oladipo’s past Eastern Conference rivalry with his father, LeBron James.
“Felt normal,” Bronny said on crossing up a former LeBron rival.
“It’s just another player I’m playing, so it was just normal,” he added.
Victor Oladipo, LeBron James Rivalry
James and Oladipo matched up in back-to-back first-round playoff series in 2017 and 2018, when the Cavaliers defeated the Indiana Pacers en route to the NBA Finals. While James and the Cavs swept the Pacers in 2017, they needed seven games to edge past Oladipo and Co. a year later in a thrilling series. In the 2018 series, Oladipo averaged 22.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 2.4 steals, emerging as a breakout two-way NBA star. Unfortunately, injuries in subsequent years derailed his rise to stardom.
Bronny James, averaging 2.3 points, 1.3 assists and 0.5 rebounds, is shooting an impressive 42.3% from three as a sophmore, making 11 of his 26 attempts thus far.
While the jury is still out on Bronny as a quality NBA pro, the 21-year-old remains confident in his ability to turn into a steady 3-and-D player. After Tuesday’s game, he spoke extensively about trying to carve out his niche as a defensive stopper.
Bronny James, Lakers Future
“Just think our main priority was just coming out and playing hard and playing defense and trying to get some easy looks on offense in,” James said, via Spectrum SportsNet. “So, I think that’s what we try to do and didn’t end up being the way we wanted to, but I think we played well.”
James, who had a rather mediocre rookie season, acknowledged that he was a vastly improved player in his second season, crediting his teammates for his growth.
“I feel different, I feel way more comfortable,” Bronny said.
“My teammates believe in me. My coaches believe in me. It’s good to get out there and take advantage of the minutes given to me.”
Previously, LeBron James urged his son to try to emulate the likes of Derrick White, Jrue Holiday and Davion Mitchell, who weren’t highly touted coming out of college but went on to become elite defensive players in the NBA. Bronny showed some of that mettle Tuesday by taking on the assignment of disrupting Victor Wembanyama.
“It’s something else for sure,” he said of guarding Wemby.
“I’m one of the smaller guys on the floor guarding the tallest guy in the league. So, it’s definitely a challenge, but I’m up for anything.”
Lakers head coach JJ Redick praised Bronny for bringing “physicality” on defense when switched onto Wembanyama.
“Well, I think the takeaway, you know, in terms of the physicality that we wanted on defense, he had two really good possessions in the first half against Wemby,” Redick said of Bronny’s big night.
The Lakers (32-21) will host the Dallas Mavericks (19-34) on Thursday, the final game before the NBA All-Star break.