Bronny James has finally opened up about the pressure of playing in both the G League and for the Los Angeles Lakers. After being drafted by the Lakers with the No. 55 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft and starting this season with the team, James has struggled to carve out a role for himself in the league and has yet to have many standout moments.
There’s no denying that being LeBron James’ eldest son puts him under immense scrutiny. During a recent interview, Bronny was asked about the challenges of playing for two teams — a unique situation that few players in the league have experienced. He explained what has made it difficult to adjust.
Bronny James Finds Out About Lakers Playing Time Just 24 Hours in Advance
If Bronny were any other G League player, the idea of getting occasional call-ups to the Lakers likely wouldn’t be possible. His presence on the court certainly helps sell tickets, and the Lakers seem to believe he has potential, which has led to him splitting time between both teams.
During his interview, Bronny revealed that the lack of notice before Lakers games has played a major role in his struggles.
“I’m really just playing it by ear. I don’t really know until 24 hours beforehand, so just staying ready for whatever comes at me and going out and playing hard … Just staying ready … most importantly, having the same mindset. Being aggressive, being a great teammate, making the right plays, stuff like that.”
Bronny James speaks on his development this year: “Putting in work behind the scenes, it’s just been very good for me … I can see improvement and it’s been going well for me” pic.twitter.com/7NOF5Sbw1S
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) March 15, 2025
Since Bronny has yet to capitalize on his opportunities and develop into the player fans expected, his interview didn’t sit well with many in the NBA world. Some critics claim he is still riding the coattails of his father and hasn’t earned his minutes with the Lakers.
Thus far, in 19 NBA games played, Bronny is averaging just 1.6 points per game on a .250 shooting percentage from the field.
In the Lakers March 14 loss to the Denver Nuggets, Bronny played 16 minutes, adding five points and two rebounds .
While the criticism Bronny has faced may seem harsh, he will have to learn to handle it if he wants to succeed in the NBA. As it stands, the Lakers are slipping in the Western Conference playoff standings and can’t afford to waste time on his development at the expense of winning games.
Bronny is expected to spend the rest of the season on the G League roster. Unless he delivers multiple impressive performances, he’s unlikely to earn meaningful minutes with the Lakers in 2025.