Bronny James earns his minutes and shines in the Luka Doncic era

Bronny James is starting to write his own NBA story. In the Lakers’ 123-115 win over the Trail Blazers, the second-year guard matched his career-high with six assists, added five points, one rebound, and one steal in 19 minutes on the floor. All of it unfolded under the watchful eyes of LeBron James and Luka Doncic, who were sidelined but locked in as Bronny emerged as a surprise contributor. According to Marca, it was the third-highest usage rate of his career. His defensive effort was also key in keeping the game under control.

The Lakers were short-handed. Luka Doncic is recovering from a left leg contusion, Austin Reaves is out with a groin issue, and LeBron James is still dealing with sciatic pain. But the team responded with grit. DeAndre Ayton and Rui Hachimura combined for 57 points, and Nick Smith Jr. exploded for 25—his third-best scoring night ever. Still, Bronny James lit the spark. His energy, court vision, and hustle made him the go-to guy in clutch moments.

Clear impact

Coach JJ Redick is putting his trust in Bronny James. He gave him 19 minutes on the court, following the 18 he played in the blowout win over the Heat. “I told the guys before the game: ‘We have what it takes in this locker room to win tonight,’” Redick said. And Bronny delivered. He only made one of four shots, but his impact was undeniable. He’s no longer just LeBron James’ son—he’s a player earning his place.

 

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With this win, the Lakers improved to 6-2 and are emerging as one of the league’s top scoring teams. According to ESPN, six different Lakers have scored 25 or more points in the first eight games, a feat only matched by the 1971-72 championship squad. Luka Doncic remains the offensive engine, but if role players like Bronny James and Smith Jr. keep producing, stopping Los Angeles will be a tall order.

The week wraps up with two high-voltage matchups: Wednesday against Wemby’s Spurs at Crypto.com Arena (possibly Fox’s debut?), and Saturday in Atlanta, where Bronny James might help Luka Doncic chase his legendary 73-point performance from two years ago.

 

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