After a polarizing rookie season that saw Bronny James take the court on just 27 occasions, the Los Angeles Lakers have finally shown him the path to consistent playing time. It's not necessarily a linear journey, but opportunities should be available if James is prepared to make the most of them.
With Marcus Smart and Gabe Vincent ahead of him, James has two veterans he can learn from and pattern his game after, and a reasonable chance to play meaningful minutes in 2025-26.
James has spent the past 14 months hearing how he doesn't belong on an NBA roster. Claims of nepotism have overshadowed his clear displays of quality in the G League and Summer League against some of the very players who joined him as second-round draft picks.
Thankfully, the Lakers aren't terribly worried about what those who hope to see James fail have to say about his obvious signs of development.
Instead, Los Angeles has positioned James to learn from two players who, in many respects, epitomize his archetype. Both Smart and Vincent are defensive-minded guards who don't necessarily fit a specific position, but have provided enough offensive value to play big minutes on postseason teams.
James has the raw tools to secure a similar role—and Smart and Vincent's contract and injury situations suggest he could do so sooner than later.
Bronny James finally has a clear path to playing time
Smart has a player option for the 2026-27 season, but if he stays healthy and turns in a strong campaign, he could opt out in favor of a multi-year deal. Vincent, meanwhile, will be an unrestricted free agent next summer.
With this in mind, there's a realistic outcome in which James learns from Smart and Vincent, and ultimately steps into one of their respective roles in 2026-27.
Along the way, it stands to reason that James could secure relatively consistent playing time off the bench in 2025-26. Both Smart and Vincent have dealt with serious injuries in recent years, and while it'd be irresponsible to project a resurfacing of said issues, it's a possibility worth monitoring.
Smart has missed 108 games over the past two seasons and Vincent was absent from 71 during his first year with the Lakers in 2023-24.
James, meanwhile, has made it clear that he understands how important defensive consistency will be for his career to flourish. Prior to the 2024 NBA Draft, he told HoopsHype that he patterns his game after the likes of Jrue Holiday, Davion Mitchell, and Derrick White.
Smart and Vincent are cut from a similar cloth as players who defend in a way that makes them seem bigger than they are—and thus enhances the value of any supplemental offensive contributions.
With this in mind, James' path to consistent playing time is clearer than ever before. Los Angeles has given him two proven veterans to learn from, as well as the opening he needed to become a consistent contributor as soon as the 2025-26 or 2026-27 seasons.
James appeared in just 27 games in 2024-25, but he could realistically factor into JJ Redick's rotation sooner than later given Los Angeles' recent moves.