Bronny James seized his moment on Sunday afternoon in Portland, making NBA history while stepping into his first career start as the Los Angeles Lakers’ resderves fell to the Trail Blazers. It only happened because the Lakers held out regular starters like Luka Dončić and Bronny’s father, LeBron James due to the fact that the game was the regular-season finale — and, more importantly, utterly meaningless to the Lakers’ playoff seeding. So, what better time to let the rookie guard capitalize on the opportunity to showcase his developing skills on the professional stage.
Honoring a legend
The timing of Bronny’s first start carried additional significance as it occurred on Mamba Day, the league’s recognition of late Lakers icon Kobe Bryant. Honoring the occasion, James took to the court wearing the “Year of the Mamba” Nike Kobe 5 sneakers, a fitting tribute to Bryant’s enduring influence on the game and young players like Bronny, who grew up idolizing him.
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Defensive prowess emerges
During his 38 minutes on the floor, Bronny demonstrated particularly strong defensive instincts that translated into a record-setting performance. His four steals established a new Lakers franchise mark for the most by any player in their first career start, highlighting his potential as a disruptive defensive presence.
While his offensive game showed room for growth – finishing with four points on 2-for-10 shooting, including 0-for-2 from three-point range – James contributed in multiple facets with three rebounds and six assists to complement his defensive effort.
Season of development
Following the Lakers’ 109-81 defeat, Bronny reflected candidly on his rookie campaign with perspective beyond his years.
He acknowledged after the game that he felt he had improved and grown both as a player and as a person. Bronny expressed that while there is still more work to be done and his progression has been slow, he believes he is getting better every day.
His rookie season statistics with the Lakers revealed the expected learning curve for a young player adjusting to the NBA level. James averaged 2.3 points per game across 27 appearances, shooting 31.3 percent from the field and 28.1 percent from three-point territory.
G League success indicates potential
While his NBA minutes initially came in limited stretches, Bronny demonstrated his capabilities more fully during assignments with the South Bay Lakers in the G League. There, he flourished with impressive averages of 21.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.9 steals per game, offering Lakers management and fans a glimpse of his potential when given extended playing time and developmental opportunities.
The stark contrast between his G League production and NBA numbers reflects the significant adjustment period young players often experience when transitioning to the sport’s highest level of competition.
Playoff preparation
With the regular season concluded, the Lakers now turn their attention to their first-round playoff matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Though Bronny’s playoff minutes likely will be few if any, as veterans reassume their starting positions, his first career start provided valuable experience that could benefit both his development and the team’s depth heading into the postseason.
