Lakers' Bronny James Shows Shooting Improvement, Eyes NBA Role

Bronny James, the 20-year-old son of LeBron James, has faced intense scrutiny during his rookie season with the Los Angeles Lakers after being drafted 55th overall in 2024. Despite a modest rookie year with limited playing time and shooting struggles, he showed significant improvement during the G League season and the Las Vegas Summer League, where he demonstrated increased confidence and better shooting, averaging over 14 points per game. Lakers assistant coach Nate McMillan and coach JJ Redick emphasized Bronny's improved confidence and the critical need for elite conditioning to elevate his game further. Bronny's career-high 17 points against the Milwaukee Bucks late in the season marked a personal highlight and boosted his confidence, reinforcing his belief that he belongs in the NBA. While he still has a long way to go to secure a permanent role on the Lakers' roster, his growth and optimism from coaches and himself suggest a positive trajectory. Overall, the Lakers and their fans are cautiously hopeful that Bronny James can develop into a legitimate rotation player if he continues to work hard and improve.