Bronny James is starting to settle in. After a shaky start to his Summer League debut, the 20-year-old guard is gradually finding his rhythm on the court. Speaking to reporters after a recent game, Bronny acknowledged the strides he’s been making in both his confidence and comfort level.
“Yeah, for sure,” said Bronny when asked if the game is slowing down for him. “It helps that I was in the G-League running point guard most of the time. Just getting these reps in the Summer League is helping as well. Just getting more comfortable game by game.”
Bronny, who attended USC for one school year, has embraced a slow and patient approach to his NBA career. After signing a $7.9 million contract in 2024 (at least $4.3 million guaranteed), he’s been quietly working behind the scenes to develop his game and take on a bigger role in JJ Redick’s rotation.
With averages of 2.3 points, 0.7 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game as a rookie, James showed brief flashes of greatness, but he still has a long way to go before he carves out a permanent place on the Lakers. This summer, ahead of the 2025-26 campaign, he’s working to build on his progress over the past 12 months.
Admittedly, Bronny was struggling to keep up in his first few Summer League games this year, but he exploded on Monday for his best game yet this summer. In a 67-58 loss to the Clippers, James put up 17 points, five rebounds, and five assists on 60.0% shooting. He also went 3-5 from three as the leading scorer of the game.
For a guy who has struggled to shoot efficiently throughout his young career, it was great to see Bronny have a successful shooting night, and it seems all the reps have been doing wonders for his development. Besides the Summer League, Bronny has had time in both the NBA and with the South Bay Lakers, which he has used to grow his confidence, expand his skillset, and get a feel for the NBA landscape.
At this point, Bronny knows that his best path to success is as a defender, and he’s committed to maximizing his production on that end of the floor. But if he can also hone his abilities as a scorer, it will unlock a whole new level to his game.
Amid so much uncertainty and drama within the organization, the Lakers are still trying to figure out where their path leads, but as long as LeBron and Bronny are still on the roster, they expect to be somewhat competitive. For Bronny in particular, his role on the team may be redefined next season as he finds his place on the court and develops more and more chemistry with his teammates.
As the youngest member of one of the NBA’s most scrutinized rosters, Bronny still has a lot to prove. But if his recent comments and performances are any indication, he’s trending in the right direction. With time, reps, and a team committed to his growth, the game is beginning to slow down, and when that happens for a young player, everything else starts to open up.
