Bronny James is facing an early challenge with the Los Angeles Lakers, and head coach JJ Redick is not hiding his assessment of the young guard’s preseason performances.
Speaking to reporters after a Lakers preseason game, Redick acknowledged that James had shown promise in practices and during the summer but said his performances in the team’s first four exhibition games had fallen short.
“I thought he had a really nice September and a good summer with us,” Redick told reporters. “I don’t think he’s played well in the four preseason games, but he’s had good practices.”
Redick also pointed to several factors that may have affected James’ performances, including his rhythm and the teammates he has shared the court with.
“Some of it’s just rhythm. Some of it’s who he’s playing with,” the coach explained. “He’s played a lot of minutes, especially in the second half of games, with our two-way guys.”
The numbers reflect James’ difficulties in the early preseason stretch. Across his first four appearances, the guard averaged 2.8 points, 3.3 assists and 0.5 steals in 17.5 minutes per game, while shooting just 26.7% from the field.
That shooting percentage stands out, although the preseason offers only a limited sample of performances. Exhibition games are primarily used to build conditioning, evaluate lineups and prepare players for the regular season, making it too early to draw firm conclusions about James’ longer-term prospects.
Redick’s comments also included a measure of encouragement. His praise for James’ summer work and practices suggests the coach sees a difference between the guard’s preparation and what he has produced during games.
For a young player trying to establish himself in the NBA, translating practice performance into consistent production during games remains an important challenge. James will have opportunities to improve his shooting and find a more comfortable rhythm as the Lakers continue their preparations.
The broader team context also adds pressure. The supplied report describes a Lakers roster being reshaped around Luka Dončić, with the organization seeking a competitive team capable of contending in the Western Conference. In that environment, players competing for rotation opportunities will need to demonstrate what they can contribute on both ends of the floor.
James’ preseason struggles do not determine how his season will unfold, but Redick’s assessment makes clear that improvement is needed. The next step is turning the encouraging work seen in practice into more effective performances when the games begin to count.
