Bronny James’ third preseason stint was rough, man, averaging just 2.2 points, 2.8 assists, and 2.4 rebounds across five games for the Los Angeles Lakers. Playing 16.4 minutes each night, his production was far from what you’d expect to earn rotation minutes to start the year. Coach JJ Redick even acknowledged the slow preseason, but a new report might just explain why things looked so grim.
The Preseason Struggle Was Real
Those numbers don’t lie, and they painted a picture of a player really fighting to find his rhythm. James also racked up 12 turnovers and shot a dismal 25% from the floor, hitting a truly brutal 12.5% from beyond the arc. It was definitely not the kind of showing that would get any fan or coach excited about his chances for a regular spot in the rotation. Redick couldn’t ignore it, publicly stating that the preseason had been slow for James. But behind those raw stats, something else was apparently going on.
The Quad Contusion Bombshell
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, James hasn’t been fully healthy, and that’s the real kicker here. Sources told ESPN that James has been limited by a quad contusion he picked up just before training camp even started. On top of that, Redick pointed out that James often shared the court with training camp invitees, not the usual rotation players. This context is massive, especially when you remember James actually finished last season as a legitimate playoff contributor for the Lakers. The organization will be hoping this injury was the sole reason for his poor showing.
What’s Next for Bronny?
Realistically, the Lakers probably aren’t counting on James for crucial minutes to open the 2026-27 season, especially when they’re at full strength. But Redick has always preached the importance of those back-end bench guys stepping up when others are unavailable, and James *did* occasionally crack the rotation last season. When he’s in form, his on-ball defense is solid, he can shoot (remember that 38.6% from three last year?), and his connective passing is useful. But he’s gotta prove that last year’s shooting wasn’t a one-off and that he can at least be a mild threat with the ball, which has been a struggle for him throughout his career.
The competition in the guard room is no joke either, with Austin Reaves, Luka Dončić, Collin Sexton, Quentin Grimes, and Matisse Thybulle (who might see wing minutes) all ahead. Plus, Jaden Hardy, Chris Mañon, and rookie Cameron Carr are all battling for those same spot minutes in the backcourt. It’s a crowded house, and Bronny’s got his work cut out for him. We’ll be watching to see if shaking off this quad contusion allows him to tap into that potential we saw last season once the real games get going.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Silver Screen and Roll.
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