Bronny James needs to consistently be able to make shots. That is the swing skill that should play a large role as to how quickly his timeline speeds up with the Los Angeles Lakers.
On a recent episode of the Game Theory Podcast, James was a point of discussion for Sam Vecenie and Bryce Simon. Vecenie did not believe Bronny was a rotation player 'by any stretch of the imagination.' There is certainly some disagreement to be had with that initial sentiment.
However, the pair did compliment how James looked at the NBA 2K26 Summer League. There were some reservations about turnovers and an unpolished handle, but overall, the improved comfort Bronny displayed was impossible to ignore.
Vecenie said, "I thought that he got to spots a little bit more consistently. It really is gonna come down to when does he shoot the ball. I think he will shoot the ball. ... I can see a world where he gets to that point [of being a rotation player]."
Bronny James must build on strong summer league showing for Lakers
Simon jumped in afterwards and expressed making shots would be the difference maker for Bronny. The podcast personality thought James future was not on the ball, believing his best role would be as an off-ball guard to maximize his offensive output.
That idea would not align well with JJ Redick's recent thoughts shared with ESPN. The Lakers coach highlighted Davion Mitchell and T.J. McConnell as two models for what James can aspire to in the NBA.
Where those two ideas can meet in the middle is contextualizing short-term versus long-term goals.
In the long term, an ideal version of James can do many of the things that players like McConnell and Mitchell provide to their teams. Playmaking, sprinkled in with a bit of self-creation, and relentless defensive energy are all things Bronny would love to be capable of.
In the short term, James' most immediate path to the rotation will be by complementing his defensive upside with a passable level of shot-making. There is reason to believe Bronny can get there too.
Off the jump, getting any opportunity to overlap with Luka Doncic will be a blessing for easy buckets. Doncic excels at creating easy opportunities for his teammates. James can, in return, offer some solid defensive support.
Getting his 3-point jumper to around league average percentages would go a long way for Bronny. Until then, his athleticism should not be overlooked as a mechanic to create enough offensive value to be on the floor.
Bronny needs to make buckets. The ability to do it against summer league competition became apparent. Now, it's about translating that to the full-scale NBA level.