Lakers’ Bronny James Continues Breakout Phase of Development

The Los Angeles Lakers secured a 110-97 victory over the New York Knicks on Sunday, led by Luka Doncic’s 35 points and eight rebounds.

With LeBron James sidelined, Austin Reaves added 25 points as Los Angeles recorded its second straight win and fifth in the last six games, improving to 39-25 on the season.

The victory also pushed the Lakers past the Denver Nuggets into fifth place in a tightly packed Western Conference.

While most of the attention focused on the Lakers’ success at the NBA level, another storyline has quietly been developing elsewhere in the organization.

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Lakers Prospects Fueling South Bay’s Nine-Game Winning Streak

On Sunday, the Lakers’ G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, recorded a 113-104 victory over the Santa Cruz Warriors.

It marked South Bay’s second win over Santa Cruz in three days and extended the team’s winning streak to nine games.

The run has pushed the Lakers to second place in the Western Conference with a 19-8 record, just 0.5 games behind the first-place Mexico City Capitanes.

In recent months, South Bay’s surge has been powered by several Lakers prospects and fringe players, including two-way trio Drew Timme, Nick Smith Jr. and Chris Manon.

Rookie Adou Thiero has also seen multiple NBA assignments, as has second-year guard Bronny James, as the Lakers continue to develop their young talent largely away from the spotlight.

James continued his solid G League play in Sunday’s contest, finishing with 15 points in 25 minutes.

The 21-year-old shot an efficient 4-of-8 from the field and 3-of-5 from three-point range while adding two assists.

One play in particular circulated on social media, as James broke out on a fast break and finished with a thunderous, highlight-worthy poster dunk.

The young guard also posted a plus-17 rating, the second highest on the team, further underlining his all-around impact in the win.

Through 16 games with the Lakers’ affiliate this season, James is averaging 13.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 47.4% from the field and 32.5% from three-point range.

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Bronny James Embracing Defensive Role in Continued Development

Through 10 regular season games, however, James’ numbers have climbed to 15.3 points per contest while shooting an eye-catching 40.0% from beyond the arc on five attempts per game.

In recent weeks, James’ G League assignments have increased, mirroring the heavier run he received from the Lakers towards the end of his rookie season.

Across 11 regular season games to close the 2024-25 campaign, the 6-foot-2 guard impressed with averages of 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.9 steals while shooting 38.0% from deep.

While there have been offensive flashes this season, including a season-high 21-point outing in a win over the Valley Suns on February 25, James’ recent performances suggest his overall game is beginning to expand.

Rather than focusing solely on scoring, James has increasingly leaned into the defensive side of the game.

He has been active in passing lanes, making hustle plays and impacting possessions in ways that do not always show up in the box score.

“I’d say defensively, that’s my role that I want to excel at,” he told reporters prior to the All-Star break. “We have a lot of guys, Luka, LeBron, AR. Those guys can go get buckets whenever we need them. But they need guys like myself, Vando, Jake, guys who can defend.”

That defensive growth may ultimately prove to be his clearest pathway to consistent NBA minutes with the Lakers, which have been limited so far.

South Bay holds an impressive 13-3 record in games that James has featured in, another sign of his growing impact on winning basketball.

While his long-term future with the Lakers remains uncertain, the organization appears committed to giving him continued opportunities in the G League as he continues to refine his game ahead of a pivotal offseason.

Matt Evans is a sports journalist from the United Kingdom, based in Paris, with over a decade of experience covering the NBA and wider global sport. More about Matt Evans