“Bronny to Play First Christmas Day Game”: Fans Torn as Lakers Recall Bronny James Amid Mounting Injuries 

Lakers fans were torn after it was reported that LeBron James’ son, Bronny James Jr., was called up from the G-League for the team’s Christmas Day matchup. The Lakers will face the Houston Rockets on Dec. 25.

James has yet to establish himself as a consistent member of JJ Redick's rotation in his second NBA season. He is averaging 1.9 points and 1.5 assists per game this season.

After Trevor Lane announced the Lakers’ decision to call up James Jr. for Christmas, fans flooded the post’s comments section with mixed reactions. Some were happy with the decision, while others trolled him. Here are the most noteworthy reactions on X:

Explore the NBA Draft 2024 with our free NBA Mock Draft Simulator & be the GM of your favorite NBA team.

“Bronny to play in his first Christmas Day game,” one fan said.

His numbers in the G-League have also declined, down from 13.4 ppg last season to 9.5 ppg in 2025-26. The next year of Bronny James’ contract is the last confirmed season. Unless his performance improves, his future in the league remains undetermined.

---

Bronny James could see significant playing time with the Lakers' backcourt stretched thin

The LA Lakers find themselves lacking quality in their backcourt, with both Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic struggling with injuries. Doncic left Saturday's game against the LA Clippers with a left leg contusion and is listed as day-to-day.

Reaves, meanwhile, has missed the team's last three games with a calf injury. With his star guards out, Redick will lean on Marcus Smart, Nick Smith Jr. and Bronny James to run the backcourt. His father, LeBron James, could also play as the team's point guard.

While it is a challenging stretch for the team, James will benefit from his increased minutes. But this opportunity will depend on what the second-year guard makes of it.

One of his best performances to date is a 17-point game against the Milwaukee Bucks in March. James shot 7-for-10, including 2-for-4 from 3-point range. He has yet to score more than nine points in a game this season.

The Lakers will first face the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday before taking on the Rockets on Thursday. The team has done well this season, holding fourth place in the Western Conference, five-and-a-half games behind the OKC Thunder in first.

Edited by Sameer Khan