Bronny James, the guard for the Los Angeles Lakers, has struggled to find his rhythm during the first four preseason games. With a combined total of 11 points and 12 turnovers, James faces challenges as he enters Year 3 of his NBA career, notably playing his first season without his father, LeBron James, on the same team.

In the Lakers' 101-89 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday in Las Vegas, James went scoreless in 11 minutes, attempting only two shots, and finished with one rebound, one steal, and four turnovers.

After the game, Lakers coach JJ Redick expressed concerns about James' performance, stating, "I don't think he's played well in the four preseason games, but he's had good practices." Redick noted that while James had a productive summer and September, factors like rhythm and the players he is paired with have impacted his game.

• Redick highlighted:
  • James played significant minutes with two-way players, affecting his performance.
  • The recent addition of teammate Rafael Castro, who has only been with the team for three days, also contributed to the lack of cohesion.

This summer, the Lakers guaranteed James' deal for the 2026-27 season at $2.29 million, part of a four-year, $7.89 million contract after being drafted No. 55 overall in the 2024 NBA Draft. Currently, the Lakers have 16 players on their active roster and need to make cuts before the regular season begins.

James appeared in 27 regular-season games in 2024-25 and 42 games last season, including time with the South Bay Lakers. Despite a decent 3-point shooting percentage of 38.6%, his specific role remains uncertain as the Lakers prepare for their final preseason game against the Denver Nuggets before the regular season opener against the Warriors on Oct. 21.