Lakers coach JJ Redick said Bronny James has not played well through four preseason games, offering a direct assessment of the second-year guard’s performance following a 101-89 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday.
“I thought he had a really nice September and a good summer with us. I don’t think he’s played well in the four preseason games, but he’s had good practices. Some of it’s just rhythm.
Some of it’s who he’s playing with. He’s played a lot of minutes, especially in the second half of games, with our two-way guys,” Redick said.
Redick’s Full Assessment Of Bronny James
Redick’s comments came after James appeared in all four of the Lakers’ preseason games, averaging 17.5 minutes per contest. The coach drew a clear distinction between James’ practice performance, which he praised, and his output in actual preseason games, which he did not.
Redick pointed to two factors behind the Bronny James preseason struggles: a lack of rhythm and the makeup of the lineups he has shared the floor with. According to Sporting News, Redick indicated that playing alongside non-roster players and shifting lineup combinations has not necessarily set James up for success, particularly in the second halves of games when he has logged heavy minutes with the team’s two-way players.
What The Numbers Show
The statistics back up Redick’s evaluation. James is averaging 2.8 points per game on 26.7% shooting from the field and just 14.3% from three-point range through the four preseason outings, according to Sporting News. He has also committed roughly three turnovers per game.
There are some positive indicators in the box score. James is averaging 3.3 assists and 0.5 steals per game, per Bleacher Report, with Sporting News listing his assist average at 3.2 and adding 2.8 rebounds and 0.2 blocks per game. The playmaking numbers suggest James has found ways to contribute even as his scoring efficiency has lagged.
Context For James’ Lakers Role
James, 22, is entering a season that could carry significant weight for his future with the Lakers. He has a team option for the 2027-28 season, and he needs to show he can be an effective role player off the bench to solidify his place in the rotation.
The Lakers are built around winning a championship this season, which means Redick has said he will deploy lineups based on what serves the team’s immediate needs rather than developmental priorities. That dynamic puts added pressure on James to produce in whatever minutes he receives, since his path to playing time will not be guaranteed by draft status or roster investment alone.
The Lakers have been managing other frontcourt questions this preseason as well, including the injury recovery timeline for Walker Kessler, and the team recently made roster decisions detailed in a report on cutting Dalton Knecht from the roster.
What’s Next
James has one more chance to make an impression on the coaching staff before the regular season begins. The Lakers face the Denver Nuggets on Friday in their final preseason tune-up, giving James another opportunity to translate his practice performance into game results.
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