Lakers' Bronny James sends 10-word message to JJ Redick after G-League demotion, 12-point NBA outing

Bronny James has had an interesting week so far, to say the least. 

On Monday afternoon, the 21-year-old Los Angeles Lakers guard was sent to the G-League for an undisclosed period of time. On Monday evening, James, along with Dalton Knecht and Adou Thiero, rejoined the Lakers ahead of their marquee matchup vs the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

While James didn’t log any minutes against the Thunder, he had no choice but to participate against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night with the Lakers' top-3 contributors (Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and LeBron James) battling injuries. 

James didn’t disappoint with his increased playing time, finishing with 12 points, six assists, three rebounds, and one block in Los Angeles’ 136-108 loss. After the contest, James sent head coach JJ Redick a 10-word message he’ll likely appreciate. 

“Defensively ... that's my role that I want to excel at," James stated. 

James’ postgame statement should be music to Redick’s ears. After all, it’s not like Redick doesn’t want to give the USC product extended minutes. 

Essentially, James hasn’t given Redick much of a reason to play him more, and with the second-year head coach wanting to protect his job, he can’t afford to include a player who isn’t ready for primetime in his regular rotation. 

If James commits to being a defensive first guard who can help the Lakers get consistent stops and transition scoring opportunities, he may eventually change Redick’s mind.

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