LOS ANGELES – The chants of “Bronny! Bronny!” have become a familiar sound at Lakers home games, with fans eager to see rookie Bronny James in action. On Thursday night, those calls were answered as James stepped up in the Lakers’ 118-89 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks at Crypto.com Arena.
With nearly half the Lakers’ roster sidelined due to injuries, coach JJ Redick didn’t need any urging to give James significant playing time. What followed was a memorable moment when James, in the first half, went one-on-one against two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. Dribbling beyond the arc near the Lakers bench — where his father, LeBron James, sat watching in street clothes — Bronny showcased impressive ball-handling, crossing over left to right and then back again. Though the play ended with a turnover after Antetokounmpo grabbed him without a foul call, it highlighted James’ growing confidence.
“He’s a much bigger guy than me,” said the 6-foot-3 James of the 6-foot-11 Antetokounmpo. “I just tried to get around him and maybe got fouled — that’s up for debate.”
Despite the turnover, James turned his extended minutes into a career-best performance. He scored a season-high 17 points on 7-for-10 shooting, adding five assists, three rebounds, and a block in 30 minutes.
“Not surprised by tonight,” Redick said. “His confidence is growing. Once he improves his conditioning, with his burst and handle, I think he’ll become a really good NBA shooter and make an impact.”
Drafted 55th overall after a season at USC, James’ NBA rookie year has been rocky, averaging just 1.6 points on 26.3% shooting in limited minutes. However, his performance with the South Bay Lakers in the G League — where he’s averaged 20.6 points, 5.1 assists, and 5.0 rebounds — suggested potential.
James credited Redick and the coaching staff for helping him adjust, especially after recovering from a cardiac arrest. “They believe in me,” he said. “It’s all coming back now, and I’m getting more comfortable.”
Determined to keep improving, James remains focused on consistency. “I’m going in the gym tomorrow, ready to work as hard as I did yesterday. Same approach every day.”