The Los Angeles Lakers have positioned themselves as a franchise focused on the future, blending the quality of their roster with the star power of LeBron James and Luka Doncic. Meanwhile, rookie Bronny James is eager to establish himself as part of that core group of players who can make a difference heading into the next NBA season.
Speaking with the media this summer, the Lakers guard singled out a standout performance against the Milwaukee Bucks as a personal turning point — one of several games that reinforced his confidence about his future in the league.
“I’d say the Milwaukee game is one, but just overall, having performances that I’d say I was proud of,” Bronny said. “Every one of those meant so much for me that I can prove to some of the people, even if they don’t want to switch sides, but prove to some of those people that I belong here and I can play. I just love that feeling, so it was great.”
Bronny added that those performances didn’t necessarily reveal something new to him, but rather validated what he already knew about himself. “A lot of confidence,” he said. “I’ve known I can do that, just being able to go out there and actually do it makes me feel great about myself and where I’m going as a player.”
At 20 years old, Bronny has taken a different path to the NBA. Growing up under the shadow of an NBA legend, James Jr. knew from the start that expectations would be high. After a season at USC, where he recovered from a cardiac arrest, Bronny was selected by the Lakers with the 55th overall pick in the draft and has been working hard to prove he belongs.
With modest rookie stats of 2.3 points, 0.7 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game, Bronny remains a player in development but has flashed enough potential for the Lakers to continue investing in his future.
In the March 2025 game against the Bucks, he delivered one of his best performances to date, scoring 17 points, dishing five assists, and grabbing three rebounds in 30 minutes — all career highs. He shot 7-of-10 from the field and 2-of-4 from beyond the arc in the loss.
If Bronny can become a more consistent shooter, that could be the key to securing a permanent role with the Lakers. But the real work is just beginning. To truly maximize his game, James Jr. will need to put in extra time at the gym to accelerate his development and become the player he’s always envisioned. Additionally, a growing social media rivalry with Cooper Flagg is already generating buzz — and that kind of media attention can play a major role in a young player’s rise within the NBA.