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Bronny James will make his first start this season as the Los Angeles Lakers wrap up their win over the New Orleans Pelicans and head into a tough back-to-back against the Milwaukee Bucks, per Sports Illustrated. The 118 to 104 result in Emirates NBA Cup action pushed Los Angeles to 9 and 4 on the season, giving them a strong bounce back after the loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Now Bronny steps into the spotlight as the Lakers deal with sudden lineup problems.
Rui Hachimura and Marcus Smart were both late scratches, which forced JJ Redick to shift his rotation. Bronny joins Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Jake LaRavia and Deandre Ayton in the opening group. Redick has used this same lineup whenever his roster has been intact, at least until LeBron James returns. When that happens, Redick must choose whether Smart or Hachimura slides out of the starting five.
Milwaukee enters this matchup just as drained. The Bucks needed overtime to beat the Charlotte Hornets at Fiserv Forum, pulling away 18 to 5 in the extra period to notch their seventh win of the season. Now they must regroup almost immediately for the Lakers.
Eric Nehm of The Athletic reported that Giannis Antetokounmpo has been upgraded from probable and will suit up despite lingering left knee patellar tendinopathy, SI reports.
The Bucks plan to start Ryan Rollins, AJ Green, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Myles Turner and Kyle Kuzma. Typically, Kevin Porter Jr. starts instead of Rollins, but injuries are pushing the young guard into bigger minutes.
Redick Searches for Rhythm on Difficult Road Swing
Redick did not hide his frustration after the loss to the Thunder. He wants his team to rediscover its rhythm, especially after two straight losses on the road before the New Orleans win. He believes the group can settle in once the trip ends, but he acknowledges that the results have been uneven.
“You have to look big picture then you have to look where your team is at right now,” Redick said.
“I don’t think it’s been a great road trip for us in terms of how we’ve played. Second half against Charlotte, I liked everything that I saw.
“But the Atlanta game and tonight I don’t think are reflective of who the group is going to be but it clearly is who the group is right now and so we’ve got to course correct.”
The Lakers get two days off after this game, giving Redick a window to reset his players before Tuesday’s matchup against the Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Arena.
Bronny’s First Start Sparks Mixed Reactions
Bronny’s first start delivered immediate buzz online. Fans took the moment in different directions. One wrote, “We really got Bronny starting in an NBA game before LeBron plays this season,” while another called it, “a disrespect to the Bucks.” Someone else leaned into the entertainment factor, saying, “The Hollywood script just wrote a new chapter.”
Many fans offered simple excitement with “Let’s go” type responses, but a vocal group questioned the timing and the decision. No matter the stance, the matchup carries weight. Bronny will now test himself against Giannis Antetokounmpo, who brings a physical presence few players handle comfortably.
Supporters still remember Bronny’s encounter with Victor Wembanyama when the French phenom used his size to send him to the floor. Giannis brings a different challenge, and Bronny now gets the rare chance to answer with his own moment.
Los Angeles has built enough early wins to experiment. Redick already watched one unexpected role player break out earlier in the season when given extra minutes. Bronny now gets the same chance to deliver something meaningful as the team continues navigating injuries.
Burtland Dixon Burtland Dixon is a sports journalist covering the NBA and athlete culture for Heavy.com. A former Division II athlete turned journalist, he offers a unique blend of locker room perspective and storytelling expertise. He has more than eight years of experience in digital media and previously served as an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints, with additional bylines at Idolator, Trend Chaser, and Buzznet. Burtland is based between California and New York. More about Burtland Dixon
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