JJ Redick States Bronny James Has Not Played Well

Bronny James is averaging 2.8 points on 26.7 percent shooting across four preseason games, a start to his third NBA season that prompted Los Angeles Lakers coach J.J. Redick stated plainly that Bronny James has not played well, with the evaluation arriving as the franchise prepares for the upcoming season.

James Struggles in Preseason Games Despite Strong Summer

Through four preseason appearances totaling 17.5 minutes per game, James has shot 14.3 percent from the three-point line and committed approximately three turnovers per contest, alongside averages of 3.3 assists and 0.5 steals. Redick addressed the numbers in a postgame press conference, noting that while James logged a strong summer and productive practices in September, his game performance has faltered in the current rotation.

“I thought he had a really nice September and a good summer with us.”

The coach added context regarding the lineup combinations on the floor:

“I don’t think he’s played well in the four preseason games, but he’s had good practices. Some of it’s just rhythm. Some of it’s who he’s playing with. He’s played a lot of minutes, especially in the second half of games, with our two-way guys.”

Lakers Manage Roster Cuts After Guaranteeing James Contract

The performance evaluation coincides with roster management deadlines for the Lakers under front-office chief Rob Pelinka, following a summer overhaul centered around superstar Luka Dončić and the departure of LeBron James, with cbssports.com reporting that the Lakers guaranteed James’s deal for the 2026-27 season at $2.29 million earlier this summer, up from the initial $1.25 million guaranteed portion of the four-year, $7.89 million contract he signed after being selected 55th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft.

With 16 players currently on the active roster, Los Angeles faces a roster cutdown deadline ahead of their final preseason matchup against the Denver Nuggets on Friday. James appeared in 27 regular-season games during the 2024-25 season and 42 games last year, while also splitting time with the team’s G League affiliate, where he shot 38.6 percent from three-point range on 1.4 attempts per game and appeared in the first round of the playoffs against the Houston Rockets.

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