The fans in Washington were mocking Bronny James, chanting ‘M-V-P’ when he stepped to the free throw line in the final seconds of the Los Angeles Lakers’ 134-96 win over the Wizards on Thursday night. He was appearing in his second straight NBA game because the score was lopsided, but the spotlight never really leaves the oldest son of LeBron James.
Just two days earlier, James drew the ire of ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, among others, when it didn’t well after Lakers coach J.J. Redick turned to him for a spark in the first quarter of the Lakers’ 118-104 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. They were his first meaningful minutes in the team’s rotation this season. He went 0 for 5 from the field and finished with three rebounds, three turnovers, an assist and a blocked shot.
“I am pleading with LeBron James as a father: stop this. Stop this. “We all know that Bronny James is in the NBA because of his dad,” Smith said Wednesday on ESPN’s “First Take.’
This has been theme throughout Bronny James’ first professional basketball season, where his arrival has mostly been met by skepticism and claims of nepotism in NBA circles. After LeBron and Bronny James made league history on opening night when they became the first father-son duo to play in a game together, Bronny James has been shuttled back-and-forth between the NBA and G League. He’s balanced some ugly performances in the NBA with some encouraging progress playing for the South Bay Lakers of the G League.
Here’s a closer look at how Bronny James’ first season in the NBA and G League have gone, and when he could play next:
Bronny James NBA stats
Bronny James’ appearances with the Los Angeles Lakers this season have been sporadic. He has played in 14 of the Lakers’ 46 games ahead of Saturday’s nationally televised game at the New York Knicks. The results aren’t pretty. He’s just 2 of 22 from the field for the season, including 0 for 9 from 3-point range.
The past two games – when James received more than 15 and 12 minutes of action, respectively – are the most he has played in an NBA game this season. He’s largely been relegated to mop-up duty in blowouts. James’ 1 for 6 performance against the Wizards on Thursday, when he played the entire fourth quarter, featured his first made field goal in the NBA since Oct. 30. He finished with a career-best five points.
“He did a lot of really good things tonight,’ Redick told reporters. ‘I thought he made a couple really nice passes. It’s building blocks for every young player, and I think tonight was a good, positive building block for him.”
For the season, James is averaging 0.6 points, 0.5 rebounds and 0.4 assists per NBA game.
Bronny James G League stats
James has bounced between the rosters of the Los Angeles Lakers and their G League affiliate at least eight times this season. Team officials acknowledged before the season the plan was for James to spend extensive time in the G League this year for development purposes.
James made his G League debut in South Bay’s season opener on Nov. 9, finishing with six points, four assists and three rebounds in a 110-96 win over the Salt Lake City Stars. He then suffered a heel contusion in his second appearance with South Bay on Nov. 17. He missed almost three weeks before returning to score 16 points in South Bay’s win over the San Diego Clippers on Dec. 7.
James initially played only in South Bay home games when assigned to the G League, but he had the best performance of his professional career to date when he made his road debut in a Dec. 12 game at the Valley Suns and poured in 30 points. James then set a new career-high with 31 points in the South Bay Lakers’ 122-110 win over the Rip City Remix on Jan. 24. It was his first G League appearance since back-to-back road games with the South Bay Lakers against the Cleveland Charge to close out 2024, and helped convince Redick to play him meaningful NBA minutes for the first time.
For the season, James is averaging 16.3 points, 4.2 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game in 10 G League appearances. He’s shooting 39% from the field, including 31.6% from 3-point range.
When is Bronny James’ next game?
The Los Angeles Lakers are in the midst of a six-game road trip as they prepare for a nationally televised matchup against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, and that would be the next potential appearance for Bronny James with his NBA. The Lakers then return to Los Angeles for a road game against the Clippers on Tuesday, Feb. 4, before a home stand that includes games against the Golden State Warriors (Feb. 6), Indiana Pacers (Feb. 8) and Utah Jazz (Feb. 10).
If James is assigned to the South Bay Lakers ahead of this weekend, his next appearance in a G League game could be as soon as Friday night against the Texas Legends at UCLA Health Training Center. The South Bay Lakers also host the Oklahoma City Blue for games scheduled on Saturday and Monday. South Bay then plays a road game at the Salt Lake City Stars on Wednesday, Feb. 5 followed by a home game against the Valley Suns on Friday, Feb. 7.
Los Angeles Lakers upcoming schedule
All times Eastern
Saturday: Los Angeles Lakers at New York Knicks, 8:30 p.m. (ABC)
Tuesday: Los Angeles Lakers at Los Angeles Clippers, 10 p.m. (TNT)
Thursday: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors, 10 p.m. (TNT)
Feb. 8: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Indiana Pacers, 4 p.m.
Feb. 10: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Utah Jazz, 10:30 p.m.
Feb. 12: Los Angeles Lakers at Utah Jazz, 9 p.m.
South Bay Lakers upcoming schedule
All times Eastern
Friday: South Bay Lakers vs. Texas Legends, 10 p.m.
Saturday: South Bay Lakers vs. Oklahoma Blue, 8 p.m.
Monday: South Bay Lakers vs. Oklahoma Blue, 10 p.m.
Wednesday: South Bay Lakers at Salt Lake City Stars, 9 p.m.
Feb. 7: South Bay Lakers vs. Valley Suns, 10 p.m.
Feb. 8: South Bay Lakers at San Diego Clippers, 10 p.m.
Feb. 12: South Bay Lakers vs. Austin Spurs, 10 p.m.
Feb. 13: South Bay Lakers vs. Austin Spurs, 10 p.m.
Bronny James contract
James signed a 4-year, $7.9-million contract with the Lakers after being drafted in the second round of the 2024 NBA draft. Players with three years of service or less can be sent, or “assigned,” to the NBA G League an unlimited number of times.
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