Bronny James may be on the cusp of a significant leap forward in his development following a turbulent rookie year for the Los Angeles Lakers guard after a solid display in the NBA Summer League and LeBron is expecting it.
His recent performances, highlighted by a viral dunk against the Miami Heat, have reignited speculation about his potential, and no one appears more confident in his future than his father.
The younger James, selected in the second round of the 2024/25 NBA Draft, faced a steep learning curve during his first professional season after he averaged 2.3 points, 0.8 assists, and 0.7 rebounds across just 6.7 minutes per game in 27 appearances.
But he did show potential and promise in the developmental G League with the Lakers‘ affiliate, South Bay, where he put up averages of 21.9 points, 5.4 assists, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.9 steals in 11 games.
He then had a potential breakthrough moment in the NBA against the Milwaukee Bucks when the Lakers were short-handed, delivering 17 points while adding five assists, three rebounds, and a block on March 20.
So as he gets minutes in the Summer League to continue to step up his game, he recently went viral after producing 10 points on 3-of-7 shooting, including 2-of-5 from beyond the arc, while adding two rebounds.
It was a slam dunk that caught the eye rapidly gained traction online, with the NBA’s official X.com, formerly Twitter, account posting a clip that quickly surpassed 5.7 million views as LeBron weighed in too.
“@bronny,” James posted to Instagram, with both a praise hands emoji and a flexing arm emoji, accompanied by the Seal song Fly Like an Eagle. The post served as a quiet endorsement, but fans read between the lines.
One user commented, “LeBron showing love to Bronny on IG Greatest teammate of all time.”
A second added, “Like Father like Son.”
And a third simply stated, “Bronny breakout season incoming.”
While modest on paper, the performance demonstrated improved confidence and rhythm, areas of concern during his rookie campaign that saw him become the subject of nepotism claims.
As the Lakers prepare for the 2025-26 season, internal expectations for Bronny‘s development appear to be rising. While he remains a work in progress, his improved form suggests there is talent to be uncovered.
Los Angeles Lakers reinforce key roster weakness
Amid the excitement surrounding Bronny, the Lakers also made a major move in free agency by acquiring the center, Deandre Ayton, in a bid to plug the void left by Anthony Davis after he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks.
The 7-foot big man, who averaged 14.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks last season with the Portland Trail Blazers, adds much-needed size and playoff experience to the Lakers‘ frontcourt.
“Acquiring a starting-caliber center was the top priority for us this offseason,” Rob Pelinka, president of basketball operations, said. “And we believe Deandre is an amazing solution to that objective.
“Deandre‘s size, mobility and athleticism will allow both paint scoring and paint protection.
“Deandre‘s playoff experience as a starter on an NBA Finals team also aligns well with our ultimate Lakers championship aspirations.”
Ayton joins a select group of players to average a double-double in each of the last seven NBA seasons, alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo, Rudy Gobert, and Nikola Vucevic.
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