Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick delivered a frank evaluation of rookie Bronny James' preseason performance following the team's 101-89 loss to the Golden State Warriors on October 13. The Lakers sit at 2-2 in their exhibition schedule, which includes wins over the Sacramento Kings and a loss to those same Warriors earlier in October.
Redick did not sugarcoat his thoughts on the rookie guard's play. "I don’t think he’s played well in the four preseason games, but he’s had good practices," the coach stated. He pointed to rhythm and lineup combinations as factors, suggesting the groups James has played with "are not necessarily setting him up for success." James has averaged 17.5 minutes per game across the four contests.
The statistical output has been undeniably tough. Through the preseason, James is putting up just 2.8 points per game on 26.7% shooting from the field. His three-point percentage sits at a rough 14.3%. Ball security has also been a problem, with nearly three turnovers per game in his limited minutes.
Despite the shooting woes, James has shown he can contribute in other areas. His averages of 2.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game indicate a willingness to facilitate and hustle. He's also chipped in 0.5 steals and 0.2 blocks nightly. These numbers suggest a potential role as a connective, defensive-minded player who can make the simple pass.
For a team built around Luka Doncic's heliocentric style, having versatile players who don't need the ball to be effective is valuable. James' path to rotation minutes likely depends on him capitalizing on those defensive and playmaking flashes while finding any kind of offensive consistency.
The Lakers' immediate focus is their final preseason tune-up against the Denver Nuggets at home on October 16. It represents one last chance for Redick to experiment with rotations and for players like James to build rhythm before the regular season grind. The coach must pinpoint which lineups maximize his roster's strengths.
Integrating young players while competing is a classic NBA challenge. James' development curve may be steep, but the preseason is for identifying these exact issues. The Lakers' 2-2 record, with a 127-103 win over Sacramento on October 5 and a 114-110 victory against them on October 8, shows a mixed bag. How Redick manages his rotation moving forward, especially on the margins, will be something to watch on our schedule page. The evaluation of Bronny James is just one part of that larger puzzle.
