Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick believes Bronny James can carve out a meaningful NBA career not by becoming a superstar, but by modeling his game after two of the league’s hardest-working, high-motor guards: Davion Mitchell and T.J. McConnell.
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, Redick highlighted Bronny’s upside and what it will take for him to realize it:
“The biggest thing for Bronny is that he has to get in elite shape. That’s the barrier of entry for him right now. And if he does that, I think he’s got a chance to be a really fantastic player in the NBA.”
Redick points to two unlikely blueprints: Mitchell, the 6-2 guard now with the Miami Heat, and McConnell, the relentless 6-1 point guard for the Indiana Pacers. Neither is a star, but both are elite role players who wreak havoc with their stamina, on-ball pressure, and sheer effort.
“On every single possession, they’re in the game, whether that’s offensively or defensively, they’re able to impact it with how hard they play. With the defensive pickup points, the disruption, being able to get downhill.”
“I think we have all seen these amazing flashes of it from Bronny. And to get to that next level for him, it’s cardio fitness. He’s cleared.”
“I get that there’s a history there of a really scary thing that he had to live through, and I think it’s tough to push past certain points for him, but he’s going to get there. He’s going to get there.”
Bronny’s physical transformation is already underway. After a difficult rookie year where he played in just 27 games and averaged only 6.7 minutes per game, he’s looked like a new player in the 2025 NBA Summer League.
Across four games in Las Vegas, Bronny has averaged 13.0 points, 3.3 assists, and 2.7 rebounds on 44.8% shooting, while also being praised for his disruptive defense and competitive intensity.
He even outshined fellow Laker rookie Dalton Knecht, who was widely viewed as a draft-day steal. While Knecht is shooting just 29% from the field and 26.7% from three in Vegas, Bronny has been efficient, confident, and most importantly, composed. In a standout performance against the Clippers, he dropped 17 points, five rebounds, and five assists while controlling both ends of the court.
His leap is no fluke. The 20-year-old is visibly stronger, more aggressive, and most crucially, fully bought in on becoming a high-impact, low-ego contributor, the very kind of player Mitchell and McConnell are.
Bronny James may never be a superstar. But if he can provide the Lakers 15–20 high-effort minutes a night filled with hounding defense, smart cuts, and unselfish passing, he will more than justify his place in the NBA. Redick’s comparison is not about skill set; it’s about spirit. It’s about fire.
With his confidence returning, his defensive presence growing, and his shooting coming along, Bronny may very well be on his way to proving he belongs not because of his name, but because of his game.
