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Bronny James' rookie year with the Los Angeles Lakers came with sky-high expectations and heavy scrutiny.
As the son of NBA icon LeBron James, his every move was magnified. But what began as a slow and challenging introduction to the professional ranks may be evolving into a story of steady growth and late-season promise.
Bronny's first few months with the Lakers were, by most s, rocky. The young guard struggled to adjust to the speed and complexity of the NBA game, leading head coach JJ Redick to assign him to the South Bay Lakers, the team's G-League , for further development. His stats with the main roster were modest but the organization was never solely focused on box scores.
According to a Western Conference executive, the Lakers have been monitoring Bronny's progress behind the scenes and are quietly encouraged by what they've seen over time.
"I don't think there's any doubt that's their plan. I know the guy gets a lot of grief because of who his dad is, but we've seen a lot of tape on [Bronny], and the fact is, he was a lot better player in April than he was in October and definitely in July," the executive said according to Total Pro Sports.
Growth in the G-League
While his time on the NBA floor was limited, Bronny had one breakout moment that turned heads in a 17-point performance against the Milwaukee Bucks that marked his first double-digit scoring game. It was a rare glimpse into the offensive confidence and shot-making ability that had long made him an intriguing prospect coming out of USC.
But his biggest leap came in the G-League. With the South Bay Lakers, Bronny had more freedom and playing time to expand his game, and he capitalized.
In a standout performance, he poured in a career-high 39 points in a 122-118 win over the Santa Cruz Warriors. The showing served notice to critics who had labeled him a project, suggesting that, at the very least, he is capable of dominating in the right setting.
The same Western Conference executive believes this progression is meaningful-and that it could translate into a real role next season.
"If he can show that wasn't a fluke, he is going to start getting 10, 15 minutes a night because the team is going to feel like they can trust him. I think he is going to do all that. He is going to be a regular for them next year," the executive added.