Bronny James is entering his third season with the Los Angeles Lakers, a tenure that ties him with Dalton Knecht for the third-longest on the current roster, trailing only Austin Reaves, who is beginning his sixth season, and Jarred Vanderbilt, now in his fourth. At 21 years old, James is embracing a more prominent role on the team as he looks to establish himself beyond his famous last name.
Known for his reserved demeanor, James acknowledges the need to be more vocal this season, particularly in his position as point guard. With nine new teammates on the roster, he sees his responsibility as both organizing the offense and ensuring players understand the expectations set by head coach JJ Redick. “I’ve got to be the guy to step up and be the primary ball-handler,” James said. “Making sure we’re organized, encouraging my guys, and getting them in the right spots—that’s what a point guard is.”
In his first two seasons, James largely played a supporting role behind his father, LeBron James, who was the team’s clear leader. Now, Bronny is seeking to lead in his own right, working steadily to improve both his offensive and defensive contributions. Last season, he appeared in 42 regular-season games, averaging 2.9 points per contest on 40.9% shooting. In the postseason, he played in eight games, posting 1.5 points per game while shooting 50%, and was noted for his defensive efforts.
James is particularly focused on developing as a defender and primary ball-handler amid a team with considerable depth and talent. He spends extra time after practice working on his defensive instincts, including full-court pressure—a tactic emphasized by the coaching staff—and continuing to refine his jump shot. During training camp, he faces daily challenges guarding elite teammates such as Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, an experience he sees as beneficial to his growth. “I’m annoyed by them and they get annoyed with me,” James said. “Just continuing to do that will make me better for sure.”
Physically, James appears more defined, attributing this to his offseason work to maintain a balance between strength and mobility. He remains around 215 to 220 pounds but aims to keep his speed and agility intact. The Lakers have endured four demanding practice sessions so far, with preseason games scheduled against Sacramento and Golden State in the coming days that will provide James and the rest of the roster opportunities to solidify roles and team chemistry.
“It’s definitely still a process,” James said. “It’s going to take a few games to get everyone situated and figure out our roles, but I’ve been here long enough to have a sense of what mine is. For the new guys, it’s about experimenting with lineups and finding what works best.”