Lakers head coach JJ Redick had high praise for Bronny James following his breakout performance on Thursday night.
The Lakers suffered a tough 89–118 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks at Crypto.com Arena, but Bronny’s play was a bright spot.
He turned in the best game of his young career. The rookie scored 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting. He also recorded 5 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 block, and 2 made three-pointers.
Redick believes this is just the beginning for LeBron James’ son. “He’s going to have a chance to really make an impact,” he said.
“Bronny Has His Head on Straight”: Redick Talks Growth, Potential
Bronny has been splitting time between the South Bay Lakers and the main roster. In nine games with the G League affiliate, he’s averaged 20.6 points, 5 rebounds, and 5.2 assists. With the Lakers, his opportunities have been limited—just 5.8 minutes per game—where he’s averaging 2.3 points, 0.6 rebounds, and 0.6 assists.
“Since I started coaching him in the summer, it was obvious to me he was going to be an NBA player. And I still believe that,” Redick said.
“The next step for Bronny is becoming an elite-conditioned athlete. And with his physical tools, burst, and handle—we think he’ll be an above-average to really good NBA shooter. He’s going to have a chance to really make an impact.”
Redick also reflected on a moment before he joined the Lakers’ coaching staff that gave him confidence in Bronny’s maturity.
“I saw some video interviews he did last year—I wasn’t the Lakers coach at the time,” Redick recalled. “And I texted Bron, ‘Man, Bronny has his head on straight. He gets it.’ Since day one, I’ve been impressed by the person that he is.”
His 30-minute outing against Milwaukee was his longest appearance this season and only the fourth time he’s played more than 10 minutes in a game, offering fans a glimpse of what he can do with extended time on the floor.
Bronny on critics: I hear it, but I don’t let it get to me
Since joining the NBA, Bronny James has dealt with plenty of criticism—everything from being called a product of favoritism to people questioning if he really belongs in the league. Among the loudest voices has been ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith.
Bronny has heard it all—but says he doesn’t let it define him.
“My first reaction is always to try and block it out,” Bronny said. “I keep my head down, stay focused, and show up with a good attitude every day. But I’ll admit, sometimes it lights a fire in me. I see all the stuff people say. Some act like I’m not human, like I don’t have emotions or feel anything.”
LeBron, who missed the game, was caught on camera celebrating some of his son’s highlight plays from the bench. The moment felt like a glimpse into the future of the Lakers—and a reminder that Bronny James may just be getting started.
