Usually, the NBA Preseason is when coaches test out new lineups and figure out which players become staples in their bench unit. The Los Angeles Lakers have been doing exactly that over their past four games. They've split their results: two wins and two losses. Obviously, Coach JJ Redick needs to fix something in the rotation, or Luka Doncic and the starters could end up clawing their way out of a hole they didn't dig. One person in the hot seat amid all of this is Bronny James.
Lakers' Coach JJ Redick gets brutally honest on Bronny James amid NBA Preseason
It has been made clear that Coach JJ Redick thinks that the Lakers have all it takes to hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy by the end of the 2026-27 NBA season. Luka Doncic will be the main superstar, and everyone will have to adapt to his style of play so the team can rack up wins. Instead of pure shooters and defenders, the roster is now built around versatile shot creators who can bail out the Lakers' offense when the heliocentrism gets tiring. This is where the issues with Bronny James come in.
Coach Redick has entrusted James with playing all four of their NBA Preseason games so far. He averages 17.5 minutes, but his production just hasn't been there, per NBA Base.
"I don’t think he’s played well in the four preseason games, but he’s had good practices. Some of it is just rhythm. He's playing a lot of minutes, especially in the second half of games... Some of it is like the group he’s with; I think that is not necessarily setting him up for success," the Lakers head coach declared.
Throughout the Lakers' four NBA Preseason games, James has struggled in many areas. He is currently averaging 2.8 points on a horrendous 26.7% field goal percentage and a horrid 14.3% three-point percentage. His woes also seep into ball-handling. He commits about three turnovers every game, which is not ideal for someone who plays under 20 minutes.
There are some glimmers of hope that Lakers fans can lean on when it comes to James. He grabs 2.8 rebounds and drops 3.2 assists nightly, along with 0.5 steals and 0.2 blocks. All of which shows he can help Doncic and Co. in more than one way.
However, Coach Redick needs to figure out which lineup James plays well in and make sure he doesn't put too much statistical strain on their chances of winning. The NBA Preseason is way different from the 82-game regular season.
While LeBron James might no longer be on the Lakers, they still have someone in the family who can contribute all around. Whether he stays on Doncic and Coach Redick's squad through the end of the 2026-27 NBA season is still up for debate.
