5 improvements Bronny James needs to become a G League-level playerÂ
During Bronny James' preseason debut for the LA Lakers, the second-round draft pick struggled to find his rhythm. While the expectation set by GM Rob Pelinka and coach JJ Redick is that Bronny James will continue to develop behind the scenes before becoming a true rotational player for the LA Lakers, questions still remain about his development.
Prior to the draft, agent Rich Paul indicated that James wouldn't be playing in the G League despite the fact that he isn't ready to step into a rotational role for the Lakers. While it's unclear how much of his development will take place in the G League, the belief is that he could make appearances for the South Bay Lakers.
Five improvements Bronny James needs to make to become a G League-level player
#1: Comfort
While Bronny James is no stranger to the bright lights, the fact of the matter is that his one-and-done year at USC didn't fully prepare him for the NBA's 82-game schedule. In order to take the next step as a player, he will simply have to get comfortable with the NBA's grueling schedule and travel requirements.
The advantage of having James make the jump to the NBA after just one year means he will be developing under some of the best coaches and trainers in the world, alongside some of the best players in the world. In doing so, he'll find familiarity and comfort that will help him on the court.
#2: Confidence
Bronny James' stints at the California Classic and the NBA 2k25 Summer League in Las Vegas saw the second-rounder struggle to find his rhythm on multiple occasions.
With the G League being comprised of players often described as "dogs" all vying for a chance to make it into the NBA, the more time he spends in the G League, the more his confidence will bloom. This could then give way to James taking the next step in his player development.
#3: Aggression
Once James gets acclimated to the NBA's schedule, travel requirements, and pace of play, aggression should come naturally. On the break, he's shown flashes of this aggression; however, in a half-court offense, he doesn't impose his will on the game at a high success rate.
In order to take the next step in his development, James will have to assert his aggression when the ball is in his hands, which will then in turn open up other areas of his game, such as his playmaking abilities.
#4: Consistency in shooting
During the NBA Draft Combine, James proved that when he's on from 3-point land, he's on. With JJ Redick having hope that he can develop into a 3 & D player, the next step in his evolution must be finding consistency with his jump shot.
So far, we haven't had a chance to see James knock down shots with the same consistency as he did at the combine. Once he finds consistency with his shot, it will be hard to deny his role as a rotational player for the Lakers.
#5: Creating his own shots
A culmination of added comfort, confidence, aggression, and consistency with his shooting will help James create his own shots, which will unlock his full offensive potential.
While he's been credited as a capable playmaker, by establishing himself as a multi-faceted threat on offense who can not only spot up for open 3-pointers but also create his own shot, James will be able to carve up opposing defenses in a variety of ways.