Bronny James made his first NBA start in the Los Angeles Lakers’ final preseason game, which ended in a lopsided 132-74 loss to the Golden State Warriors. Despite the team’s struggles, Bronny played 35 minutes, recording 17 points (7/17 field goals, 1/5 three-pointers), 4 rebounds, and 3 steals. It was his best performance of the preseason, having previously scored only 8 points over four games.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick opted to rest 12 players, including LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and D’Angelo Russell, giving Bronny a chance to lead a squad filled mostly with two-way players. Reflecting on his opportunity, Bronny shared his excitement about being able to play freely for an extended period. “Just gave me a chance to be myself,” he said. “I feel like that’s where I’m the most comfortable, just going out there and playing my game.”
Though the Lakers’ regular season stars were absent, Bronny viewed the game as a valuable experience to showcase his potential. “I just try to focus on what my role is and excelling at that,” he added. “I feel like I was given an amazing opportunity to go and showcase what I can do down the road. If that’s not right now, if that’s not what [JJ Redick] wants me to do right now, I’ll be ready when the time comes.”
Despite the lopsided defeat, Bronny remained optimistic about the confidence boost from his extended playing time. “Having a little bit of confidence going into the season… Even though I might not be in that rotation, might not be playing, but just going into practice, maybe G League games with that confidence in myself to go out there and play my game,” he said.
Bronny’s performance in this game marks a positive note after a preseason in which he struggled to find his rhythm. At USC, he averaged just 4.8 points per game, leading to questions about his readiness for the NBA. His shooting inconsistencies, managing 36.6% from the field and 26.7% from beyond the arc in college, raised concerns about how well he would transition to the professional level.
His time in the NBA Summer League also showcased similar shooting struggles. Bronny averaged 8.8 points per game but shot just 35% from the field and an alarming 15.8% from three-point range. These numbers have further fueled skepticism about his ability to succeed in the NBA.
