The Los Angeles Lakers have dealt with a rash of injuries, including being limited to Austin Reaves as the lone ball-handler for multiple games, and Bronny James only played 28 total minutes in the team’s first six games. The second-year guard still hasn’t scored and failed to produce a counting stat in two of the three contests he got on the floor. Head coach JJ Redick has no trust in the 21-year-old, and Bronny is proving him right.
The Lakers did give him 20 minutes of action against the Blazers on Oct. 27. It was the second night of a back-to-back, and Los Angeles was without Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Marcus Smart, Gabe Vincent, and Adou Thiero. Reaves was their only trusted ball-handler healthy, but Redick played two-way guard Nick Smith Jr. more minutes than Bronny. It was James’ best game of the season, but that is a low bar to clear.
LeBron’s oldest son is a fan favorite. Lakers supporters would love to see Bronny blossom into a steady role player who impacts winning, but their NBA Cup opening win over the Grizzlies was just the latest example that the second-year pro can’t be trusted.
Bronny James isn’t an NBA player at this stage
The Lakers were still without LeBron, Vincent, and Theiro in Friday’s game in Memphis. Luka Doncic surprisingly returned early from injury and went nuclear again, but coach Redick only played a nine-man rotation. With Luka, Smart, and Austin Reaves starting, Dalton Knecht was the only guard to play off the bench. Doncic and AR ran the show, but Redick could have used a secondary creator whenever one of the stars and Smart needed a rest.
The opportunity was there for Bronny again, but he never left the bench. Even during an abysmal second quarter where the Lakers gave up 42 points and were outscored by 18, there wasn’t even a thought of putting in the 21-year-old. Redick gave Knecht 15 minutes, and LA was outscored by ten with him on the floor. Still, the coach trusted him. That was not the case for Bronny.
The Lakers are 4-2 and wouldn’t be if he saw more action. James averages 0.0 points, 1.0 rebound, 1.0 assist, and 1.3 turnovers in 9.3 minutes per game so far. He appeared in just three contests, and Los Angeles has been outscored by two points in his 28 total minutes. Small sample size caveats apply, but Redick not trusting him even when the Lakers aren’t playing a point guard off the bench tells the tale.
Bronny James isn’t a finished product. His biggest problem is he lacks an NBA skill. Bronny has struggled to handle the ball, make shots, and defend. The 6’2 guard is undersized. He offers athleticism and not much else at this stage. The Lakers must send him to South Bay and allow him to season his game in the G League. It is the only way Bronny is going to blossom into the player Lakers fans hope he becomes.
The Los Angeles Lakers can’t play him right now. It is on Bronny to earn Redick’s trust and overtake a role on this team. Gabe Vincent struggled and is injured. There are seemingly minutes available, but the young guard isn’t snatching them. Fans want it to happen, but Bronny needs more time to develop. It is not what anyone wants to hear, but the truth hurts sometimes.
