Bronny James returned to action for the South Bay Lakers against the San Diego Clippers on Saturday but faced another challenging outing as LeBron James‘ son struggled to find his shot.
The team suffered its second loss of the season despite Bronny starting at point guard, joined by Chris Manon, Anton Watson, Kylor Kelley, and R.J. Davis in the lineup. However, the young guard could not convert efficiently, limiting his contribution throughout.
Bronny finished with 10 points on 4 of 12 shooting, including 0 of 5 from three-point range. He also made 1 of 1 free throws, grabbed five rebounds, dished one assist, and committed four turnovers, reflecting a night of offensive struggles.
He had a rough start, refusing some open jumpers and missing his first two attempts, including a three-pointer. The young guard did not register points in the first quarter, contributing only a rebound and an assist, highlighting his initial difficulties on the court.
“I just need to keep working and find my rhythm,” Bronny said postgame. “I know the shots will fall with time, but today wasn’t my best.
“I’ll learn from it and keep improving my game for the team.”
The second quarter did not improve his fortunes, as he missed three more shots until Bronny finally scored inside the arc late in the period, closing the half with two points on 1 of 6 shooting, three rebounds, one assist, and one turnover.
After halftime, he showed some signs of rhythm, converting two of three attempts in the penultimate period. However, his struggles from beyond the arc persisted, missing his fourth three-point shot and ending three quarters with eight points on nine attempts.
In the fourth quarter, Bronny attempted three more shots and made only one as his shooting struggles contributed directly to the South Bay Lakers‘ 124-113 defeat, putting pressure on the 21-year-old to improve quickly.
Why was Bronny James sent to the G League?
Bronny entered the NBA under high expectations after being drafted 55th overall in 2024 by the Los Angeles Lakers, joining his father as the first father-son duo to play simultaneously.
But his rookie season featured limited minutes across 27 games, averaging 2.3 points, 0.7 rebounds, and 0.8 assists as he appeared to struggle to adapt to life as a professional before being sent to the G League for the first time.
Then in his second season, James has played 11 NBA games, including one start, but struggled to secure consistent minutes as the Lakers used the G League to provide him with more playing time and opportunities.
Bronny was recalled to the NBA before the Lakers faced the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday but saw limited action and he did not play in the team’s Friday win over the Dallas Mavericks.
Ultimately, he was reassigned to South Bay for further development, emphasizing the organization’s focus on his growth as the Lakers view these assignments as critical for his skill refinement, decision-making, and adaptation to the professional pace.
The G League offers extended minutes, helping James build confidence and readiness for more substantial NBA responsibilities in the future. Now it’s time for Bronny to step up in response.
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