Bronny James starts to shine as Lakers battle through injuries

“I must be the first person in NBA history to throw a lob pass to both a father and a son.” Austin Reaves’ words capture an anomaly that will never feel normal. It’s not just that a father and son are playing in the NBA at the same time — it’s that they’re doing it on the same team. On October 22, 2024, just over a year ago, history was made when, during the second quarter of the Lakers’ regular-season opener against the Timberwolves, JJ Redick subbed in both LeBron and Bronny James together. It lasted only two minutes, but the crowd erupted, witnessing live one of the most remarkable moments in league history.

Bronny’s quiet first season

Bronny’s first season, however, was quiet. There were flashes of promise in the G League, but the obvious truth soon became clear: however gifted LeBron might be, his son was never destined to inherit the crown. With the Lakers, Bronny played mostly in garbage time and low-stakes games, though he did make his playoff debut. At just under 6-foot-3 (6′2″), he’s undersized for the NBA. While he defends well and has quick hands, his shooting woes have held back his development and limited his role in one of the toughest rotations in basketball. His attitude is impeccable, which earns him respect in the locker room — but not minutes on the court.

Bronny starts to emerge

Things, though, have begun to shift. Not dramatically, but gradually. And always within the Lakers’ current context: 6–2, sitting third in the ultra-competitive Western Conference, riding a four-game win streak — yet dealing with a wave of injuries, including LeBron’s. In their latest win over the Blazers (115–123), they were also without Luka Doncic, Gabe Vincent, Austin Reaves, and Adou Thiero. It’s been a pattern early in the season, forcing Redick to stretch his rotation, cut down minutes for certain players to manage fatigue, and experiment with lineups. That’s worked in Bronny’s favor, giving him limited but genuine quality minutes.

In three of the Lakers’ eight games this season, Bronny has played close to 20 minutes — both matchups against Portland (a loss and a win) and against the Miami Heat. For comparison, last season he appeared in 27 games but topped 10 minutes in only five, and more than 20 minutes in just two. The increased involvement is clear: he grabbed 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal in the first of those games; tallied 2 points, 2 assists, and 3 steals against Miami — the game that produced Reaves’ now-famous quote — and posted 5 points and 6 assists in the win over the Blazers. The context has helped him, and while his shooting percentage remains dreadful, he’s contributing. Where it goes from here remains to be seen. But for now, Bronny is beginning to surface.

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