Bronny James is entering his second season in the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers, following his selection in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft. After spending much of his rookie year developing in the G League and sharing court time with his father, LeBron James, Bronny has seen increased playing time this season due to injuries among key Lakers guards.
LeBron James expressed satisfaction with Bronny’s progress during an appearance on the “Mind the Game” podcast with Steve Nash. He said: “It’s been great. You know, not only as a father but just as a student of the game. To see someone use what he was able to do last year in the G League, use that to get more comfortable, then go into Summer League and be even more comfortable. And when his time has been called this year, just continue to feel good about it. I think in those games where Luka was out or AR was out or Marcus was out, I think we had back-to-back games at home. I forgot who we played at home, but then we were in Portland, I was super proud of him, and of the maturation process to not only play well at home, but then to have a back-to-back in a tough environment in Portland and do it again. That’s what the NBA is all about.”
LeBron also discussed how he manages being both Bronny’s teammate and parent: “When we’re in practice and in games and things of that nature, it’s the leadership. I’m one of the guys and one of the leaders of the team. But we have our side time where I can, you know, tell him about what I’ve seen or whatever. But I just want him to walk his own journey, and I can give him the blueprint and I can give him some of the things that I’ve seen, but I want him to walk through the fire as well.”
The Lakers have relied on their depth early this season while dealing with injuries across their roster. Despite LeBron missing several games along with other key players such as Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, Bronny has appeared in 11 out of 17 contests so far.
The team strengthened its roster during last offseason by signing Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart, and Jake LaRavia—all three have contributed positively by fulfilling their roles within head coach JJ Redick’s system.
Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves have also formed a strong backcourt for Los Angeles this season.
As both LeBron and Bronny navigate their dual relationship as teammates and family members within a professional setting, they continue to make positive contributions on and off court for an organization focused on maintaining competitive performance throughout challenging stretches.
