Bronny James had an evening to forget as he turned out for the Los Angeles Lakers’ preseason opener on Friday night.
The Lakers – without the likes of superstars LeBron James and Luka Doncic – fell to a 103-81 defeat to the Phoenix Suns – shooting just 31.1 percent from the floor.
However, fans were quick to point out that while the team’s stats made for difficult reading, Bronny’s individual numbers were even worse.
The 20-year-old made just 1-of-12 shots (1-of-8 from three) as he struggled to find his shooting form – but did manage to pick up five rebounds and two assists.
Despite James coming out afterwards and claiming that he feels more ‘comfortable’ with the team this year, it didn’t stop fans from sharing their frustrations.
‘Bronny not supposed to be in the league’, one user on X wrote after the loss.
Bronny James had an evening to forget as he turned out for the LA Lakers’ preseason opener
The 20-year-old made just 1-of-12 shots (1-of-8 from three) as he struggled to find his form
Another simply wrote: ‘Bronny went 1-12 smh’.
‘I been off the Bronny train dude just not good,’ one frustrated fan said.
Meanwhile, another said: ‘Bronny still garbage I see’.
Speaking to reporters after the game, Bronny said: ‘I felt like they were pretty good shots. Not rushed, not forcing anything.
‘Didn’t have my legs under me as much as I wanted to, so a lot of them were short, but most of them were on line. I felt like I could have made those. I felt like I took some good shots.’
‘Definitely felt like I was more comfortable, especially with the ball in my hands, and with the defensive and offensive schemes,’ Bronny said.
‘But I’m just trying to feel it out. Feeling my way still and just continuing to grow.’
This is a crucial offseason for James – who is hoping to gain more time in JJ Redick’s rotation for the 2025-26 season.
Fans were quick to voice their frustrations with Bronny’s performance against the Suns
This is a crucial offseason for James who is hoping to gain more time in the Lakers rotation
Bronny told ESPN during NBA Summer League play that he’d spent the last year trying to overcome lingering issues stemming from a heart condition.
He notably went into cardiac arrest two years ago prior to his only year of college basketball at USC. Eventually, Bronny was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect and underwent surgery.
Across 27 games in his rookie season in the NBA, James averaged 2.3 points, 0.7 rebounds, and 0.8 assists on a shooting average of 31.3 percent from the field.
He was much more efficient and proficient in the G-League – averaging 21.9 points and 44.3 percent shooting.
