Bronny James Makes Preseason Debut for Los Angeles Lakers

PALM DESERT, Calif. — In a preseason matchup for the Los Angeles Lakers, Bronny James made his debut with a notable defensive performance despite his limited offensive contributions. The game ended in a 124-107 loss to the opposing team, but it was a significant moment for James, whose father, LeBron James, watched from the bench.

Bronny James, the Lakers’ No. 55 pick, scored two points on 1-for-6 shooting and led the team with three blocked shots in 16 minutes on the court. He supplemented his stats with a rebound and an assist. His first block came within minutes of his entry into the second quarter when he prevented the Wolves’ Alexander-Walker from scoring.

According to Lakers coach JJ Redick, who has been overseeing Bronny’s development, James earned his rotation minutes due to his strong showing in training. “Before the game, we discussed our rotation matrix, and Bronny has impressed us with his performance in recent weeks,” Redick said. “He’s shown defensive capabilities at his size that are quite unique, and we see potential for him to become a disruptive defender,” he added.

On the offensive end, Bronny struggled to find rhythm, missing several shot attempts, including a floater, a baseline pull-up, and a long three-pointer. However, his persistence paid off as he secured his first basket in the closing seconds, drawing loud cheers from the Lakers’ “home” crowd.

Redick also remarked on Bronny’s positive energy, calling him “easy to coach” and commending his “great soul.” Meanwhile, LeBron James was held out of the game to rest following his participation in the Paris Olympics with USA Basketball.

Looking ahead, Redick anticipates LeBron’s participation in the upcoming game against the Warriors, which could mark historic NBA grounds with the father-son duo potentially taking the floor together for the first time.