Bronny James has played in all four of the Los Angeles Lakers’ NBA Preseason games, but his production just isn’t there, and Coach JJ Redick isn’t sugarcoating it. The Lakers have split their Preseason results at two wins and two losses, and with the 2026-27 NBA season on the horizon, Redick clearly knows something needs to change with the rotation before Luka Doncic and the starters get stuck trying to dig out of a hole.
Redick Drops the Hammer on Bronny’s Play
Coach Redick has made it known that he believes the Lakers have what it takes to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy by the end of the 2026-27 NBA season. Luka Doncic is the superstar, and everyone has to adapt to his game to rack up wins. The roster is built around versatile shot creators who can bail out the offense when Doncic’s “heliocentrism” gets tiring. This is exactly where Bronny James is having issues. Redick has given James 17.5 minutes per game across all four Preseason contests, but the numbers just aren’t backing it up.
“I don’t think he’s played well in the four preseason games, but he’s had good practices,” Redick declared, adding some context. “Some of it is just rhythm. He’s playing a lot of minutes, especially in the second half of games… Some of it is like the group he’s with; I think that is not necessarily setting him up for success.” That’s a pretty candid assessment for Preseason, telling you everything you need to know about where things stand.
The Brutal Stats Tell the Story
If you look at the raw numbers from these four Preseason games, it’s tough to argue with Redick’s take. James is averaging a mere 2.8 points per game, on an absolutely horrendous 26.7% field goal percentage. From beyond the arc? It’s even worse, with a horrid 14.3% three-point percentage. His struggles don’t stop there, spilling over into ball-handling where he commits about three turnovers every game. That’s a brutal stat line for someone playing under 20 minutes a night.
Now, it’s not all doom and gloom. There are some glimmers of hope that Lakers fans can cling to. James is grabbing 2.8 rebounds and dropping 3.2 assists nightly, along with 0.5 steals and 0.2 blocks. These numbers show he can help Doncic and the squad in more ways than just scoring, especially with his defensive instincts and playmaking. But the current offensive struggles are undeniable. Coach Redick really needs to figure out which lineup James plays well in and make sure the team’s chances of winning aren’t statistically strained.
The NBA Preseason is a totally different beast than the 82-game regular season. Even with LeBron James no longer on the Lakers, there’s still a member of the family who could contribute all around. But right now, after these four Preseason games, whether Bronny stays on Doncic and Coach Redick’s squad through the end of the 2026-27 NBA season is still very much up for debate. There’s a lot of work to do before opening night.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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