Lakers guard Bronny James is facing a critical assessment from coach JJ Redick after Tuesday’s 101-89 NBA preseason loss to the Golden State Warriors. It’s a tough look for James, who many expected to make a bigger impact early on, and now the head coach is laying out the facts about his play.
The Preseason Performance Under the Microscope
Redick didn’t sugarcoat it in his postgame press conference, though he did offer some balance. He acknowledged, “I thought he had a really nice September and a good summer with us.” That’s good to hear, right? But then the hammer dropped: “I don’t think he’s played well in the four preseason games, but he’s had good practices.” He pointed to rhythm issues and who James is playing with, specifically mentioning “our two-way guys” in the second half of games.
But let’s be real, the numbers don’t lie, even if it is preseason. James has played in all four of the Lakers’ preseason matchups, averaging 17.5 minutes per contest. In that time, he’s putting up just 2.8 points on a brutal 26.7 percent shooting from the field. He’s also averaging 3.3 assists and 0.5 steals. Sure, it’s a limited sample, and the preseason is about getting guys back into game shape. Still, shooting under 30 percent? That’s definitely not the encouraging sign anyone wanted to see from the 22-year-old.
High Stakes for Bronny’s Future in Purple and Gold
This is shaping up to be a massively important season for Bronny James and his future with the Lakers. He’s got a team option for the 2027-28 season, so he absolutely needs to show significant improvement. The goal is clear: prove he can be an effective role player off the bench. No one’s expecting him to be the next superstar right out of the gate, but reliability and efficiency are non-negotiables.
The pressure cooker is even hotter because the Lakers are chasing a title, plain and simple. Coach Redick isn’t going to have time to baby anyone; he’s going to lean on the lineups that serve the team best right now, end of story. Bronny won’t have a long runway to iron out his flaws on the court when the stakes are this high. He’s got to show it, and he’s got to show it fast.
So, what’s next? Bronny James has one more shot to impress the coaching staff before the regular season kicks off. The Lakers are hosting the Denver Nuggets on Friday night. This is his chance to turn things around, make some shots, and prove he can hang. The clock is ticking.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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