Bronny James Struggles In First Significant NBA Playing Time

Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James, left, tries to get past Philadelphia 76ers' Kelly Oubre Jr. during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt S

During the Lakers' recent game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Bronny James, son of NBA superstar LeBron James, received his first substantial playing time in the NBA. Unfortunately, his performance did not meet expectations.

Despite coming off a career-high 31-point game in the G League just days prior, Bronny struggled on the court. He was unable to score, missing all five of his shot attempts, including three 3-pointers, and committing three turnovers.

Lakers coach JJ Redick acknowledged that Bronny was put in a challenging position, playing in a nationally televised game on short notice. While expressing confidence in Bronny's abilities based on his recent performances, Redick noted that the young player did not deliver at a high level during this game.

Coach JJ Redick acknowledges the challenging position Bronny was in.

Bronny missed all five shot attempts and committed three turnovers.

LeBron James emphasizes Bronny's need for growth and improvement.

Bronny made history playing with his father, LeBron James, in the NBA.

Bronny will split time between the NBA and G League for development.

The Lakers lost to the 76ers despite LeBron's strong performance.

LeBron James, Bronny's father and teammate, emphasized that his son is still adapting to the NBA and needs time to grow and improve. Despite some positive moments, such as setting up a dunk for a teammate, Bronny's overall performance fell short of expectations.

LeBron and Bronny made history earlier in the season by becoming the first father-son duo to play together in an NBA game. However, Bronny's playing time has been limited, with this game marking his most extensive minutes with the Lakers.

Looking ahead, both LeBron and the Lakers organization have indicated that Bronny will continue to split time between the NBA and the G League to further develop his skills and gain experience.

In the absence of injured star Anthony Davis, the Lakers struggled against the 76ers, ultimately losing the game. Despite LeBron's strong performance with 31 points, the team was unable to overcome the absence of Davis and the scoring prowess of the 76ers' Tyrese Maxey.

As Bronny navigates his rookie season in the NBA, he remains focused on bringing energy to the court and learning from each opportunity to play at the highest level of basketball.

While this game may not have showcased Bronny's full potential, it serves as a valuable learning experience as he continues his journey in the NBA.